NTPC CMD’s appointment challenged in Delhi High Court

Gurdeep Singh, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) finds himself in the dock, as a PIL filed by an NGO, Centre for Law and Good Governance, seeks to put a stay on his appointment. Gurdeep Singh was the Managing Director of Gujarat State Electricity Corporation earlier.

The NGO has sought HC’s intervention to restrain Ministry of Power from acting upon the appointment order of January 28. It says, “the order has been issued in contravention of the procedure prescribed for selection”. The PIL also alleged that eligibility in the advertisement is in direct contravention of the Public Sector Enterprises Board guidelines.

The Delhi High Court has sought the government’s response on the PIL. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath passed the order, saying it needs to be ascertained whether the official has satisfied the eligibility criteria prescribed in the advertisement of October 10, 2015 or not.

Next hearing in this matter has been listed for April 4, 2016.