ATFE tracks violations of the country's foreign exchange laws.
Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar today said in all 77 candidates were interviewed in the previous two occasions by a high-powered selection committee without success to fill the post which has been lying vacant for the last 20 months.
"As we stand today, a third advertisement has come in the newspapers...Hopefully, we will be able to find a suitable person this year," Kumar said in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.
The government had come out with two advertisements - one in June last year and the other in February this year - attempting to fill up the ATFE's top position, which has been lying vacant after the resignation of the last incumbent.
The chairperson's absence has also led to the piling of cases, he added.
The then Chairperson of the ATFE, in exercise of powers under section 20 (2)(b) the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, had constituted two single-member benches and a division bench comprising the Chairperson and a member.
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The division bench hears cases in which the amount of penalty exceeds Rs 5 lakh and all other cases are heard by a single-member bench.
"Since there is only one full-time member in ATFE at present, cases in which amount of penalty is up to Rs 5 lakh, are being heard," Kumar said, explaining reasons for the creation of a considerable backlog.