DoT initiates process to select successor of TRAI chairman RS Sharma

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has initiated the process to identify a new chairperson for the country’s telecom regulatory body Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

As the term of the existing TRAI chairman Dr. Ram Sewak Sharma comes to an end on 30 September 2020, the DoT has notified the opening and advertised for the post. “The post of Chairperson, TRAI will be falling vacant on 01.10.2020. The tenure of the post is for a term not exceeding three years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier," the advertisement released by the department stated.

A 1978-batch IAS officer from Jharkhand cadre, Sharma was appointed as the TRAI Chairman in August 2015. A recipient of the Voice&Data Telecom Person of the Year award, he is credited with providing the leadership and visionary role during an extremely challenging time in the Indian telecom sector.

He had earlier served as the Secretary with the Ministry of Electronics & IT, Director-General of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), and as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Jharkhand.

It may be recalled that the government had in August 2018 extended the term of Dr. Sharma for two years till 30 September 2020, when he turns 65.

TRAI is a statutory body set up by the Government of India under Section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, to regulate the telecom services and to protect the interest of service providers and consumers.

Elaborating on the qualification, the DoT stated that the applicant should have special knowledge and professional experience in telecommunication, industry, finance, accountancy, law, management, or consumer affairs.

It also specified that central government officials willing to apply for the post should have held the post of secretary or additional secretary, or the post of additional secretary and secretary to the Government of India or any equivalent post in the central or state government for a period not less than three years.

The DoT also specified that in addition to the application received through open application in response to its advertisement, the Search-cum-Selection Committee appointed to select the TRAI Chairperson will have the authority to consider any other names for the post.

Shubhendu Parth

shubhendup@cybermedia.co.in