OVL director appointment delay
Unexpected vigilance queries from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) are further delaying Dr.
Anil Bhandari’s appointment as ONGC Videsh’s (OVL's) next director exploration. A senior oil ministry official says the queries are “routine” and “nothing serious” though he declined to explain their exact nature.
“Our vigilance department is preparing a reply," he says. "The file will be sent back (to the ACC) for signatures soon.
" Seven months ago, on June 26, 2013, the PESB selected Bhandari to replace NK Verma who moved to ONGC as director exploration on April 1, 2013. Bhandari surprised many with his unexpected selection, widely believed to be won on merit.
He was cleared of any corruption slurs by the Central Vigilance Commission in September last year and should have been appointed by now. Bhandari defeated 14 other candidates to win the director post, 13 from ONGC and one from Oil India.
He turns 59 on July 27.