New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) A younger person should replace the DRDO chief, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said Wednesday, adding that it was on his recommendation that DRDO chief Avinash Chander's term was ended.
A day after termination of Chander's services was approved, the minister also said there was no "controversy" in the removal.
"I recommended that a person on contract should not be occupying such a senior position. This senior position should be filled by other eligible senior persons. There is no controversy here," Parrikar said.
"I believe DRDO should be headed by a younger man... I had proposed for his removal and they have agreed to it."
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the termination of Chander's contract with effect from January 31.
A notification was put up on the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) website, but removed later.
DRDO officials said they did not receive any official information.
Chander, widely known as the man behind the Agni series of missiles, retired Nov 30, 2014, at the age of 64. The government, however, approved that he continue on contract thereafter and the contractual term was to end May 31, 2016.
Chander was the Secretary, Defence Research and Development cum Director General, DRDO, and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister.
Asked if the sudden termination of the DRDO chief without informing him was right, Parrikar said, "I also got the information from you, from paper and TV."
"The tenure of DRDO chief would normally have ended in November but the previous cabinet had approved a three-year extension to his term, with the additional years being on contract," Parrikar told reporters.
The minister added that the post would be filled by someone for now till a permanent replacement was found.
"As of now the person to replace him has not been decided. We will fill the post temporarily by someone who has the urge for development."
Modi government determined to work with diaspora: Sushma Swaraj
Gandhinagar, Jan 8 (IANS) The Narendra Modi government is determined to work closely with India
Prime Minister Modi, in his address before the Economic Survey, said that it is natural for the c
Gautam Adani, who is included in the list of the world's richest businessmen, is also not far beh
February is the month of love. The days of love begin from the first week of the month. Every day
The southern districts of Tamil Nadu are facing a flood-like situation these days. It has been ra
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has effectively banned firecrackers in its range til
In the Tikunia case, the investigation team filed a five thousand-page charge sheet in the court
Within 24 hours, more than 2.33 lakh patients were found, 1.22 lakh people were cured and 1338 died.
Things have worsened in the country. Coronavirus has engulfed the entire country. In every state,
Reliance said, bringing 5G technology for high-speed internet in India
Most of the big newspapers have covered the 43rd annual meeting of Reliance Industries Limited on
So far, more than 50 lakh health workers, frontline workers, and people of 60 years and above hav
