New NINL MD appointment sparks off row

The appointment of the new managing director of the steel PSU, Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) has sparked off a row with question marks being raised over the propriety of his selection.

P C Sahu, who has been serving as the joint managing director of NINL since January 9, 2008, was appointed as the company's managing director on March 4 this year.

Sources close to the development alleged that the appointment was done arbitrarily without conducting any interview. This is despite the fact that MMTC Limited, a Government of India enterprise and the managing promoter of NINL, had in October 2009, placed advertisements for the posts of MD and Director (finance) of the steel PSU. It may be noted that the post of managing director of NINL had fallen vacant from October 2009 following the death of B K Panda, the then MD of the company. Sources alleged that the interview was not conducted at all even though there were half dozen applicants for the post.

Amarendra Mohapatra, director (personnel), MMTC Ltd declined to comment on the matter. However, a senior MMTC official said, the interview for the post of MMTC MD was conducted on March 4 and Sahu was appointed as the MD the same day basing on the interview. However, he did not mention how many applicants were called to the interview besides Sahu.

The appointment of Sahu has also been stiffly opposed on another count- his age. Sources said Sahu has been appointed as the MD at the age of 62 and this is in blatant violation of the qualifying norms. When contacted by Business Standard, Sahu, the newly appointed MD of NINL neither confirmed nor denied the allegations pertaining to his age. Sahu instead said that he is not the right person to comment on the matter.