ONGC, IRCTC among 21 PSEs operating without full-time directors

By Animesh SingNew Delhi, Aug 19 : As as many as 21 central public sector firms (CPSEs) comprising Maharatna company ONGC, Navratnas Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC), among others, operate without a full-time chief.

In some instances the top positions were vacant for more than 18 months.

According to reports in the Department of Public Enterprises, the countrys largest refinery company ONGC has no Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) since April 1st 2021 i.e.16 months, and its subsidiary OIL has been without an executive since July 1 2022.The catering arm of the Railway Ministry IRCTC has also been without a permanent Chairman since February 1st, 2021, an absence of over 18 months.

BEL also has no Chief since the 1st of July, 2021.Meanwhile, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) Chairmans position is vacant since the 1st of June this year.

Although in the cases of SCI and OIL the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) has recommended candidates for the positions of CMD and MD for organizations such as ONGC, IRCTC and BEL the process of selecting CMDs and chairpersons is carried out by the Civil Services Board or Search Cum Selection Committee.Sources from the Department of Public Enterprises, which is part of the Finance Ministry, said that all 21 vacant positions of CMDs and MDs are in several phases of being filled.

Other companies that have no full-time head include Mahanadi Coalfields, HMT Ltd, Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd and Sagarmala Development Company Ltd among other companies.Sources said that even though efforts are taken to ensure that positions at the board level dont remain vacant for long periods of time the CPSEs are operating without regular heads for various reasons.ans/v.