Shipping Corp still headless

Another PSU appointment row appears to be brewing with the Shipping Corporation of India having gone more than a month without a permanent CMD because Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu is yet to shortlist a candidate. S Hajara, the Director of Personnel and Administration, was asked to officiate as CMD from Sept. 1 this year after P.K. Srivastava’s tenure as CMD ended in August. But the appointment has not been made permanent.

A senior Shipping Ministry official confirmed this, saying Hajara’s name has been shortlisted by the Public Enterprises Selection Board but a permanent candidate for the CMD’s post is yet to be named. The official said Baalu is yet to forward a name to the Cabinet Appointments Committee. The appointment will then have to be cleared by the PM. Asked why it was taking so long for a CMD to be selected, the official said: “Please ask that question to the minister.” Attempts to contact Baalu proved unsuccessful. The selection process began nearly a year ago. Hajara and S.S. Rangnekar, a director at SCI, were among five names the Selection Board was considering for the post. Officials say the Board did not recommend Rangnekar’s name.