Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has proposed to the ACC that Shashi Shanker, selected by the PESB as CMD for ONGC, be initially appointed for one year instead of five years during which his performance would be reviewed every quarter instead of after the first year. The reason for the Minister's caution may be the fact that Shanker, who has been Director (Technical) of ONGC, was suspended from his post in February 2015 for alleged irregularities in an unawarded Rs 23-crore tender for buying 21 blowout preventers. He was reinstated in July as the Supreme Court held that a government employee's suspension could not stand beyond 90 days unless the prosecution files a chargesheet within the stipulated time. It remains to be seen how the ACC harmonizes Pradhan's recommendation with PESB rules that stipulate that a board-level functionary may be considered for appointment for five years or until the age of superannuation, whichever is earlier, with a provision that they would be assessed by the administrative ministry after the first year of their employment.