A new search-cum-selection committee, tasked with shortlisting names for the AIIMS director's post, has been reconstituted following orders last week from the Prime Minister's Office. It would be headed by the Health Secretary instead of the Union Health Minister. The move of reconstituting SCSC followed after some applicants for the top job accused some members of the panel of conflict of interest as they were supposed to have close relationship with a particular candidate. They have also raised the issue of eligibility of promotee professors for the director's post. The earlier SCSC was headed by Health Minister J P Nadda. The main contenders for the top post include V K Paul, Head of the Department (HOD) of Paediatrics, Randeep Guleria, HOD of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders and Alka Kriplani, HOD of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Current AIIMS director M C Mishra is set to retire on January 31 next year.