Nagpur: The Federation of Coal Industry Retired Employees Association (FCIREA), with its registered office at Jaripatka, Nagpur, has severely criticized appointments of Bharti S Sinha, IAS, as chairman of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and that of S Bhattacharya, IAS, as chairman-cum-managing director of Coal India Limited (CIL) and termed both the appointments as based on ‘favour.’
The Federation in a complaint lodged (by J N Singh) with the Chairman, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension, PE Bhavan. Lodhi Road, New Delhi has decried the illegality involved in the aforesaid appointments and termed it as a ‘blind and blanket favour,’ said a press note, dated June 12, issued by the Federation’s office.
It is pointed out by the Federation that there were as many as 12 internal candidates who were duly qualified and more eligible on the panel that S Bhattacharya who had reportedly failed as CMD of Singareni Colieries Company Limited, and also he did not enjoy the post of additional secretary to the Government of India. He has been picked up as CIL Chiarman just because he is an IAS officer, and the PESB is dominated by IAS lobby.
Similar is the case of Bharati S Sinha IAS who likely to be appointed SAIL chairman. She may also be picked up from IAS lobby out of favour.
The Federation has outlined that the IAS officers should never be appointed on Public Sector Units (PSUs) because they are simply administrative hands and not technocrats. Moreover they move out anywhere for better prospects or lucrative offers, and they have sense of belongingness to the industries. Citing an example of S Narsinh Rao as CMD, CIL, it has been pointed out that Rao IAS was appointed for a period of 5 years, but the served for only two years and two months, leaving the company in lurch.
The Country has a very good number of technocrats and professionals who qualify for the post of chairman SAIL or CIL, said the press note, adding that there is no need for entertaining the applications of IAS officers and inviting them for interviews.
It reminds of government directives that internal candidates should be preferred to officers from outside or other PSUs. The press note has cautioned the PESB to restrain itself from inducting IAS cadre officers to the top management posts, or else the Federation will challenge the ‘favour’ and approach the court of law.
