The pre-mature repatriation of NHAI Chairman Deepak Kumar (IAS:1984:BH) and subsequent vacancy has made the selection and appointment of new Chairman quite interesting. Keeping in view the complex and time-consuming procedure and three years’ fixed tenure of Chairman post the frequent entry and exit of three Chairmen in a span of 33 months is something worth examining. For example, Raghav Chandra had less than 15 months tenure while Yudhvir Singh Mallik’s (IAS:1983:HY) tenure was from January 2017 till he was made Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) in June 2017. Mallik had mere six months’ tenure whereas Deepak Kumar headed NHAI from June 2017 till mid of May 2018; a tenure of less than one year. As per the NHAI Act 1988 (Amended in 2011) the Chairman is appointed by the ACC, based on the recommendation of Search-cum-selection Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary with Finance Secretary, MoRTH Secretary, Director of IIM and MD of a Public-Sector Bank as members. The entire process of selection and appointment takes at least four to six months’ time.
NHAI Chairman post; a musical chair
By IndianMandarins - 2018-05-30 10:30:10
The pre-mature repatriation of NHAI Chairman Deepak Kumar (IAS:1984:BH) and subsequent vacancy has made the selection and appointment of new Chairman quite interesting.
Keeping in view the complex and time-consuming procedure and three years’ fixed tenure of Chairman post the frequent entry and exit of three Chairmen in a span of 33 months is something worth examining. For example, Raghav Chandra had less than 15 months tenure while Yudhvir Singh Mallik’s (IAS:1983:HY) tenure was from January 2017 till he was made Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) in June 2017. Mallik had mere six months’ tenure whereas Deepak Kumar headed NHAI from June 2017 till mid of May 2018; a tenure of less than one year.
As per the NHAI Act 1988 (Amended in 2011) the Chairman is appointed by the ACC, based on the recommendation of Search-cum-selection Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary with Finance Secretary, MoRTH Secretary, Director of IIM and MD of a Public-Sector Bank as members. The entire process of selection and appointment takes at least four to six months’ time.
