A CMD of a Maharatna completed one year on 31st December 2016 which required his performance appraisal and approval by the ministry for confirmation. The department moved the file. Since, accidentally, some officers in the chain of command were on leave, the completion of the process was delayed. By the time the file completed its due course of appraisal and other administrative formalities, the minister went on an official tour and hence by the time the file was put up before the minister, it was 01 February 2017. This delay meant that the CMD was already confirmed in service because the statutory provisions say that the officer will deem confirmed in service if the ministry fails to respond, either adversely or favorably, on the same within the stipulated time. Of course, the ministry had also found the case a fit and appropriate case for confirmation. So an embarrassment was avoided.