Ex-oil regulator Sibal goes on long leave from OIL

Former oil regulator V K Sibal, who was denied an extension of service, has gone on long leave after his parent organisation Oil India Ltd kept pending his application for early retirement.

Sibal rejoined OIL on October 31 and immediately applied for early retirement, government sources said. In 2004, he had gone as directorate general of Hydrocarbons on lien from where he was reverted to his parent company OIL.

OIL has not taken a decision on his application as the vigilance clearance is still pending.

Sibal was denied an extension as head of India's upstream nodal agency till his superannuation age of 60 years in January 2012 after the Central Vigilance Commission found a 'deficit of trust' in him. Sibal faces allegations of nexus with certain private operators.

On October 23, Sibal, director general of DGH, applied for voluntary retirement from OIL. But OIL rejected his application saying he could request for early retirement only from his employer of that time that is the Government of India, sources said.

Despite repeated efforts, Sibal could not be reached for comments.

S K Srivastava, director (operations) at OIL has been given additional charge as head of DGH.

Image: V K Sibal