Indianmandarins has learnt that the panel of candidates shortlisted for the critical post of member (finance) in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has been scrapped. Senior bureaucrats such as Annie Moraes, member (finance) in the telecom department, Sadhna Dixit, ex-principal advisor (finance), Trai, and Ajanta Dayalan, Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) had been shortlisted for the Trai member's post some eight months ago. The reason for the scrapping of the panel, which has taken most stakeholders by surprise, wasn't immediately clear. The post has been lying vacant for three months. Under Section 5 (9) of the Trai Act, a new member has to be appointed within three months of the slot falling vacant. This provision may be violated, though. The post fell vacant after Vijayalakshmy K Gupta (IDAS:1974) retired in early March. There are indications that the post may remain vacant for a while as the entire selection process may have to start afresh from inviting fresh applications from potential candidates. Nine candidates had been initially interviewed by a four-member search panel headed by economist Bibek Debroy to find Gupta's successor. Telecom Secretary J S Deepak and Trai Chairman R S Sharma were also on the search panel.