The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on Friday rejected the entire panel of six shortlisted candidates for chairmanship of Coal India Ltd (CIL).

PSEB’s decision triggered speculation that if the current Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Sutirtha Bhattacharya — who is scheduled to retire on August 31 — does not get extension, CIL will be headless like some of its subsidiaries.

Considering that four top executives of CIL subsidiary companies appeared in Friday’s interview, cancellation of the panel rules out chances of future selection from within the company.

In its recommendation issued on Friday evening, PESB said: “The board did not find any candidate suitable for the post and recommended that the government may choose an appropriate course of further action for selection.”

Earlier during the day, the board interviewed six candidates — Gopal Singh, CMD, Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL); Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, CMD, Western Coalfields (WCL); Anil Kumar Jha, CMD, Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL); Shekhar Saran, CMD, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI); Kulamani Biswal, Director (Finance), NTPC, and Tanugula Ramakishan Rao, Director (Commercial), NMDC.

CCL, WCL and MCL are mining subsidiaries of CIL. CMPDI is the R&D wing of the miner.

Apart from his responsibilities as CMD of CCL, Singh is also the acting Chairman of CIL subsidiary Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL).

In the past, PSEB had selected him for chairmanship of NMDC. However, the government didn’t issue the appointment.

RR Mishra handles additional responsibility of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Sekhar Saran is the acting Director (Technical) of CIL.

Both Mishra and Saran enjoy good reputation and were considered the dark horses for today’s selection.

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