Another Low for Irani: Modi Rejects Her Choice of CBSE Chief

After August 2015, this is the second time Smriti Irani’s suggestion for CBSE chief has been rejected.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani (Photo: Youtube screenshot)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shot down Smriti Irani’s suggestion of Dr Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh as the next Central Board of Secondary Education chief, reported The Indian Express. This decision follows Irani’s removal as the Human Resource Development (HRD) minister.

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a letter for the HRD ministry on Tuesday which read as follows:

While considering the proposal, the competent authority in the ACC (Appointments Committee of the Cabinet) has conveyed that the post be filled under Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) by keeping the recruitment rules in abeyance.

This isn’t the first time Irani’s choice of CBSE chief has been rejected. Earlier in August 2015, she had proposed Satbir Bedi as the chief.

The ACC rejected the proposal as Bedi did not fulfill the minimum requirement of three years of experience as an education administrator.

Additionally, the Prime Minister has taken the entire process out of the jurisdiction of the HRD ministry. Along with this, the selection committee has been ordered to finalise a name and submit the proposal for ACC’s consideration by 31 October.

Read the full report here.