The confusion over the next chief of Indias largest state-run maharatna ended today with the Prime Ministers Office approving Sudhir Vasudeva as the new chairman-cum-managing director of ONGC. After stalling it thrice over nearly six months,the PMO approved Vasudevas name a day before Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister relinquished his charge. T K A Nair,who is in an advisory role from today after handing charge to Pulok Chatterjee,ensured the clearance on Sunday,sources said. Earlier,the PMO had expressed doubt whether the Central Vigilance Commission clearance to Vasudeva on March 31 had followed the rulebook. But the CVC said that the Commission,though truncated by the absence of a Central Vigilance Commissioner,was empowered to give the clearance. Incidentally,the CVC had twice refused clearance to Vasudeva while PJ Thomas was heading the Commission. But a fortnight after Thomas was removed from the post in March,it cleared Vasudevas appointment. The PMO had asked the CVC to answer the allegation that ONGCs then chief vigilance officer Swadeep Singh was sent on an overseas junket while he was handling numerous complaints of alleged corruption against Vasudeva as a quid pro quo to bury the complaints. The CVC said that the junket had the commissions approval. This query was the third instance where the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had sought clarification on Vasudeva. The first time,the Cabinet Secretary (who is the ACC Secretary) directed in June for details of all complaints against Vasudeva as well as comments on a representation by an MP. The second time,the Cabinet Secretary sought the CVCs final advice on complaints filed by two MPs. Usually,a one-line clearance from the CVC is sufficient for the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) to process its approval with the administrative minister recommending the selected name and the Home Minister and Prime Minister,in that order,approving or disapproving it. Vasudeva,who is Director (Offshore),will take over from A K Hazarika who has been officiating as ONGC CMD since R S Sharma retired on January 31. Vasudeva was selected by the Public Enterprise Selection Board on October 20.
