The Governing Council meeting of apex co-op body NCUI sprang a surprise on members when the name of Sudhir Mahajan, a promoted IAS officer of UT cadre was announced as the next Chief Executive.
A 2005 batch (AGMUT) IAS officer, Mahajan came back from Goa last year in August to join as Special Secretary (Urban Development), Govt of Delhi. Mahajan who is set to retire in a week’s time from the govt services, is said to be NCUI Vice-president Bijender Singh’s choice.
The announcement of his name and the strong advocacy for him by Bijender Singh in the GC meeting caught many of the GC members unawares. Though none of the members spoke against his appointment, a few of them spoke of their uneasiness at the unprecedented speed in appointing him.
NCUI’s GC meeting usually takes place once in three months but Wednesday’s meeting, aimed at announcing Mahajan’s name, was called only a month after the January meeting. Since Mahajan is retiring soon, it was at his behest that the GC meeting was called. Mahajan needs to seek DoPT approval before his retirement, to be able to join, said sources.
The element of surprise was also due to the fact that few GC members were aware that a Search-cum-Selection Committee for appointment of Chief Executive was constituted with five members namely– Dileep Sanghani, Bijender Singh, Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, Sunil Kumar Singh and Sanjeev Kumar Chadha. Ashish Dwivedi, Executive Director (Pers.), NCUI was the Convener.
The report called “Proceedings of the Search-cum-Selection Committee for appointment of Chief Executive, NCUI”, were placed before the GC seeking approval for Mahajan’s name.
The Proceedings, a copy of which is with Indian Cooperative read “a meeting of the Search-cum-Selection Committee for appointment of Chief Executive, NCUI took place on 24 February, 2021 at 12 Noon in the Board Room of NCUI under the Chairmanship of Shri Dileep Sanghani,
President, NCUI.”
“There were a total 17 applications received and after scrutiny, the Screening Committee short-listed the following 04 candidates who were found eligible for consideration by the Search-cum-Selection Committee. They were Alok Dixit, Sunder Singh Yadav, Ashok B. Pillai, Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, IAS”, it read.
“Giving importance to the qualifications and work skills as well as experience and calibre of the above candidates
it was unanimously decided to recommend the name of Dr Sudhir Mahajan, IAS for the post of Chief Executive, NCUI, the Proceedings noted.
“Mahajan’s administrative experience coupled with responsibilities and power of the highest degree, outstanding ACRES, communications skill, etc made the Committee to decide in his favour”, the Proceedings noted.
“As an IAS officer, Mahajan can liaise with the government and ministries better. NCUI is at a crossroads when NCCT has gone away from it and there is an urgent need to have a CE whose experience and position carries weight before the ministry officials”, said a GC member justifying Mahajan’s choice.
Racing against time it is anybody’s guess if Mahajan would be able to get DoPT approval before he retires. Watch these columns to keep pace with the developments on NCUI’s Chief Executive appointment issue.
