Even as the Indian Telecom Services Association has opposed appointment of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd's director finance as the corporation's new CMD alleging that serious complaints against him were pending investigation, Communications Minister Arun Shourie has dismissed the charges.
"That's absolute bunk. We have examined those (allegations) and it turned out that those were false...if senior appointments are going to be blocked like this it is a very bad thing for all of us," Shourie said on the sidelines of a videoconferencing function in New Delhi on the occasion of the launch of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's mobile services in Nagaland.
"After all there is a procedure and there is a board which decides these things over several weeks and months. If allegations like this is going to derail appointments, it will be very unfortunate," the minister said on Monday.
ITSA has opposed Public Enterprise Selection Board's recommendation for appointment of R S P Sinha, currently MTNL's director finance, as the new CMD. ITSA has said the recommendation was in violation of a cabinet decision on the qualification of eligible candidates.
ITSA said Sinha had no experience in operation, maintenance and development of public telecom network, and has also alleged that serious complaints against him were pending investigation.