TRAI chief selection panel shortlists three candidates

The screening committee set up to select the next chairman of telecom sector regulator TRAI has shortlisted three candidates -- Finance Secretary Arun Ramanathan, Consumer Affairs Secretary Yashwant Bhave and former BSNL director S D Saxena.

The committee, which is headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, is learnt to have shortlisted these applicants for the post based on their experience and knowledge of the telecom sector.

Sources said that the committee would be forwarding these names to the administrative Telecom Ministry soon.

TRAI Member, Finance, A K Sawhney is looking into the day to day activities after Nripendra Misra's retirement on March 22 as the Chairman of TRAI.

The DoT had earlier suggested an amendment in the TRAI Act 1997 to allow non-Government experts to apply for the posts.

According to DoT, the move is in line with the selection criteria followed by other regulators such as IRDA, CERC and SEBI.

Of the 29 applications received for the post of Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the screening committee had shortlisted 13 for an interview, based on their experience and knowledge of the telecom sector.

While most of the applicants in the fray were former government employees, P V Ramadas, Vice-President, HCL BPO Services, was the only executive from the private sector named in the list.