This story is from June 7, 2007

PESB backs Sharma for ONGC top slot

TNN / Jun 7, 2007, 02:53 IST

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The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), the government's headhunter, on Wednesday once again voted for RS Sharma for the post of ONGC chairman.

NEW DELHI: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), the government's headhunter, on Wednesday once again voted for RS Sharma for the post of ONGC chairman and zeroed in on former bureaucrat Najeeb Jung as its second choice for heading the country's highest profit-making company.
Sharma was chosen from among 26 candidates who appeared to face the interview, including those from the private sector.This marks a comeback for Sharma, ONGC's finance director who has been acting as chairman for a year since Subir Raha completed his five-year term on May 25 last year.
PESB had forwarded his name for the post along with the name of ONGC director-onshore AK Hazarika as the second choice in August last year. But the recommendation was turned down by the Prime Minister's Office on the ground that not enough candidates were interviewed.
The PMO, however, had said that there were nothing against the two executives and they could appear once again when fresh interviews are conducted.

But unlike last year, the second choice this time is a former bureaucrat. As an IAS officer, Jung had served in the oil ministry as a joint secretary in charge of exploration during the early 1990s. He later quit the government service and did a stint with the Asian Development Bank and Reliance Industries-funded think-tank Observer Research Foundation. He is now involved in energy research at Oxford University.
All eyes will now be on the PMO which will have the last word. Last time round, Sharma had been cleared by all government agencies such as CVC and CBI. As per procedure, the PESB recommendation will once again be forwarded to the PMO and all clearances will have to be sought afresh. One of the strong contenders, OVL CEO RS Butola, chose not to appear for the interview.

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