BSNL, MTNL may see new top bosses by March-end

BSNL and MTNL, the two telecom PSUs, are likely to get their respective chairman and managing directors (CMDs) by the end of this month.

“After March 18, the last date for the receipt of applications by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it will take two-three weeks to get the name from the selection committee formed under the leadership of Sam Pitroda,” Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekar said.

While the post has been vacant since August 1, 2010, at BSNL, it has been vacant since January 10, 2010, at MTNL.

The appointment shall be on contractual basis and for a period of three years, which can be further extended for three years based on performance evaluation by an external expert group.

Earlier, DoT scrapped the list of successful candidates picked by the old selection panel and set up a new search-cum-selection panel for the selection of CMDs for the two state-run firms.

Meanwhile, the government has given the additional charge of BSNL CMD to DoT member (Services), S C Misra. Formed in July, 2010, the old search-cum-selection committee, had come under controversy. BSNL’s employee union had challenged the process and the selection made by the old search panel in the Delhi High Court.

Headed by Pitroda, the new panel includes UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair and Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar.