The Hindu Business Line : Shipping Corporation: Confusion continues on CMD appointment

CONFUSION still shrouds the appointment of a chairman-cum-managing director for Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), with Director (Personnel), Mr S. Hajara, being asked to take only temporary charge as CMD.

A temporary CMD has been put in place even though the selection process had actually begun in February this year.

Informed sources say that there has been intense behind-the-scene lobbying right from the beginning of the selection process. Like any other PSU chief's appointment there were some difference of opinion in the Ministry, which resulted in the delaying the selection of the chairman, said a source.

In March this year, Mr Hajara's appointment seemed imminent — it was reported then that he had pipped another contender, Mr S. Ranganekar, SCI's Director, who is four years senior to him. In fact, Mr Hajara was then flooded with congratulatory calls and letters.

In the subsequent months, however, the focus shifted to Mr Ranganekar, who had the support of the senior bureaucrats in the Ministry as he was the senior most director and had rich experience in the operations side. Besides, he also held the post of Managing Director of Irano-Hind, a joint venture of SCI and the State-owned Iranian shipping company.

Subsequently, there was a volte-face, with rumours doing the rounds about the political pressure to have a candidate from outside the organisation to head the company. What compounded the confusion was the sequence of events at the eleventh hour that led to Mr Hajara assuming temporary charge. His predecessor, Mr P.K. Srivastava, relinquished office on August 31 and till late evening of that day nobody had an inkling of who will succeed him. Even Mr Srivastava himself did not know whom he should hand over the office to, sources say.

The instruction came only on the next day, informing that Mr Hajara will be taking over as temporary chairman. This baffled SCI employees more, as generally the senior most personnel is made the temporary CMD till a final decision is taken at the highest level in the Ministry.

It is not clear why the Government chose to appoint a temporary CMD.

It is also unclear when the Government will take a final decision on the matter, but there is speculation that Mr Hajara might be eventually appointed as full-time CMD.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
e-GoM to announce IA's price for Airbus acquisition today

UAE-India air travel set to cost more

Govt to buy Boeing Business Jets for VVIP travel

AI teams up with UNEP to address environment issues

Surana Industries' appeal — Madras HC sets aside order for not impleading a party in dispute

Shipping Corporation: Confusion continues on CMD appointment

Rlys introduces new ticketing system at Guruvayur and Alwaye

Fuel price hike: Too early to study impact, say transport cos