Govt screens 29 applications for Trai chief; disqualifies 16

The Search Committee for selecting the next Telecom regulator has disqualified 16 applicants, including former telecom secretary D S Mathur as his application came in before the advertisement for the post.
   
While the current Secretary Siddartha Behura has not applied for the post, the eligible candidates who are in the reckoning include Finance Secretary Arun Ramanathan, Heavy Industry Secretary Satyanarayana Dash and Telecom Commission Member (Technology) K Sridhar.
   
The meeting of the Search Committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, was held on March 9 to consider the applications, sources said. Nripendra Misra, the incumbent Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, will retire on March 21 when his three year tenure expires.
   
The Committee considered a five-point criteria to screen applications, including those received before the date of publication of the advertisement for the post -- February 5, 2009, they added.
   
Candidates having no knowledge and professional experience relevant to the post have also been rejected by the Committee.
   
Aspirants who have held the post of Secretary or Additional Secretary for less than three years or applications not received through proper channel were also not considered.