NEW DELHI, FEB 28: Union Minister For Chemicals and Fertilizers Suresh Prabhu has ignored an order issued by the Cabinet Committee on Appointment (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister.Rejecting Prabhu's proposal to extend the tenure of K G Ramanathan as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the Indian Petro-Chemicals Limited (IPCL) for six months, the ACC order said that Chinmoy Bhattacharya should be appointed as CMD of the state-owned IPCL.The order was issued through a gazette notification on behalf of the Prime Minister on February 11 after a protracted battle between the PMO and the Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry.The ACC, after examining the Minister's proposal for extension of Ramanathan's tenure, said that he ``cannot be given extension beyond January 1, 2000.'' But Ramanathan did not demit office till Friday and has not handed over to Bhattacharya. Sources say that the Minister instructed that under no circumstances charge be handed over to Bhattacharya. The order has been in a limbo for over a fortnight. Prabhu was not available for comment, despite repeated attempts.Insiders say that Ramanathan's extension and denial of post to Bhattacharya is part of a battle that is going on for the control of IPCL. The IPCL is up for disinvestment and Prabhu wanted that Ramanathan be allowed to stay until the process is completed.But he was unable to explain why the presence of Ramanathan is necessary to complete the disinvestment process as this is now separately handled by the Department of Disinvestment headed by Arun Jaitley.
