HAL in a fix as PESB hunts for 'jinxed' director's post again

A part of the advertisement called by PESB recently. This was taken from the PESB website.

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is in a fix over the 'jinxed' post of its Director Corporate Planning and Marketing, which fell vacant in October 2011. The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), mandated with the job of short-listing directors, is making a second attempt to find a suitable man for this crucial post. The PESB had earlier shortlisted a senior HAL official for the post, only to be informed later that the man was on the radar of the vigilance wing.
A circular issued by Vedantam Giri, PESB's director, Department of Personnel and Training, had set April 22, 2013, as the last date for aspirants to apply. “Advance action may be taken to keep the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for last five years, of those candidates ready along with their latest vigilance profile (penality imposed and details of disciplinary actions, if any) to be furnished as an when the selection meeting is scheduled,” says the circular.
The marketing head's post, currently given as an additional charge to another director, was last occupied by Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh, who was found hanging from a tree on the way to Nandi Hills, a popular tourist spot near Bangalore. Subsequent police investigations concluded that Baldy, as he was popularly called, committed suicide. An ace Test pilot, Baldy was spearheading the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) project in HAL, until he was selected for the director's post. HAL has kept the IJT project under wraps since then with no details being given out to the media or on its public domains.
“Under the restructuring plans of HAL, following the recommendations made by the Chaturvedi Committee, the total number of directors are likely to be trimmed, and some key posts merged. Even the helicopter complex is without a director now and the charge has been given to another man. All these will affect the overall production performance of the company in the long run. These are government decisions and we have to abide by it,” a planning department officer said.
NO COMMENTS: Interestingly, a set of five questions emailed to HAL's head R K Tyagi's office seeking reasons for the inordinate delay in appointing a new man as marketing director, evoked no response. HAL's PRO Gopal S told Express over the phone that the company does not wish to respond. When quizzed about the reasons for not giving HAL's version officially, the PRO had no answers. Insiders say that to avoid further controversies, an absolute media gag is in place, now.

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