GAIL’s Bhuwan Chandra Tripathi denied third extension as CMD

The government has declined Bhuwan Chandra Tripathi a third extension as Chairman and Managing Director of India’s biggest natural gas firm GAIL India Ltd, sources said. Tripathi, 59, who was the youngest person to become a chairman of an oil and gas PSU in August 2009, completes his second five-year term on July 31, and was eligible for an extension till his date of superannuation in January next year. Sources said the government has, however, declined an extension.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has communicated the decision of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), which was seized of the issue after Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had recommended an extension early this year, to the ministry, they said. DoPT, however, did not give any reasons for denying Tripathi an extension, they added.