Despite being ranked 10th among the 12 candidates, eight from within NHPC, vying for the position, Singh's selection has raised eyebrows and spotlighted issues of competence and a cult of mediocrity in the senior echelons of NHPC.
Currently serving as the Chief General Manager at SJVN Limited, headquatered in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Singh's appointment underscores a departure from traditional seniority-based selections.
The decision has sent ripples through NHPC, challenging the conventional wisdom of prioritizing seniority over competence.
The selection process, conducted by the Public Enterprise Selection Board of the Government of India, scrutinized a pool of highly qualified candidates.
Notable contenders included Melinda Ganesh Gokhale(NHPC), Lalitandu Kumar Tripathi(NHPC), Ashok Kumar Nauriyal(NHPC), Rajat Gupta(NHPC), Ram Saroop(NHPC), Sandeep Kumar(NHPC), Anil Kumar Dash(Lanco Teesta), Suprakash Adhikari(NHPC), Rakesh Sehgal(SJVN), Mehendra Kumar Kapoor(HPSEBL), and Teerathnath Singh(Patel Engineering). They all are directors or executive directors.
Despite the wealth of experience among these candidates, none from NHPC were deemed "suitable and competent" by the selection board.
Singh's elevation to the directorial position signifies a paradigm shift in leadership selection, emphasizing meritocracy over a cult of seniority and mediocrity and inbreeding.
His demonstrated competence and track record at SJVN Limited have been instrumental in securing the confidence of the selection board.
The decision to appoint Singh has prompted introspection within NHPC, forcing a reassessment of conventional hierarchies and the criteria for leadership roles.
SJVN is showing its competence and has growing as an enterprising Public Sector Undertaking under its competent Manpower and committed CMDs from Kapur to Nand Lal Sharma and Geeta Kapoor, present serving CMD, said the insiders.
Its share has broken new grounds as far as CPSUs are concerned, reflecting on the growth of the organisation.
"It serves as a reminder that in a dynamic and competitive environment, merit and capability should supersede mere seniority in organizational decision-making processes", commented a corporate affairs expert.
