The Hindu : New Delhi News : Selection of CPCB chairman runs into trouble

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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Selection of CPCB chairman runs into trouble

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Senior researchers question selection process

NEW DELHI: Selection to the post of chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board has run into trouble with a group of senior researchers -- also applicants to the post -- now complaining to the Union Environment and Forests Secretary about the “unfair” selection process.

The post of CPCB chairman has been lying vacant since the past 17 months and is now being looked after by a senior official of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry as an additional charge. The Ministry had invited applications to the post recently and the process for selection is currently under way.

In a written complaint to the Secretary, applicants have questioned the consideration of current CPCB member secretary B. Sengupta for the post of chairman.

In his compliant letter to the secretary, S.L. Garg -- also an applicant -- said: “The Ministry had invited 11 candidates for interview on last October 9 of the almost 100 applications they received in response to three advertisements issued last year. We as applicants to the post want to know how a person already on deputation for more than eight years can be appointed to a higher post ? We also want to know why the Ministry brought out three advertisements asking for applications to the post?’

Reacting to allegations Dr. Sengupta said: “This is false propaganda and an attempt to delay the selection process.”

Senior official in the Union Environment and Forests Ministry said that process to select the chairman was on and would be completed in the due time following procedure already in place for it.

Meanwhile, the Ministry in a reply to a Right to Information application by one of the applicants to the post of CPCB chairman admitted that the rules for selection to the posts were amended for bringing in more candidates: “The post of CPCB chairman was advertised three times as the recruitment rules for the post were amended to widen the zone of consideration consequent upon representations received from the technical and scientific officers association of CPCB,” the Ministry said.

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