The Hindu : Front Page : Manmohan cautions Ministers on PSE appointments

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

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Front Page

Manmohan cautions Ministers on PSE appointments

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 13 . In a bid to stop Union Ministers from interfering or influencing top appointments in public sector enterprises, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has asked all Ministers to ensure that the guidelines and policies evolved by the Government for appointment and the service conditions of the Board of Directors and senior management personnel of the PSEs are strictly followed. He has mandated the Cabinet Secretary, B. K. Chaturvedi, to monitor compliance in this matter.

In a letter to the Ministers, Dr. Singh said that efficient functioning of the PSEs were critical to the fulfilment of the commitments of the Common Minimum Programme which aimed at overall growth of the economy. He reminded them that there were standing instructions and guidelines on the structure, composition, selection, appointment and service conditions of Board of Directors and senior management personnel which were approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and the Department of Personnel and Training from time to time and asked them to ensure that there were no deviations from these guidelines and standing instructions.

"I am directing the Cabinet Secretary to closely monitor the compliance," the Prime Minister said, indicating his firm resolve in this matter.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said the letter was an integral part of the exercise undertaken to tone up the administration, a top priority for the Prime Minister.

The letter was not intended at any particular Minister or Ministry.

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