The two telecom PSUs -- BSNL and MTNL -- are likely to get their respective CMDs by the end of this month.

"After March 18, which is the last date for the receipt of applications by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it will take 2-3 weeks to get the name from the selection committee formed under the leadership of Sam Pitroda," Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekar told PTI.

The post of BSNL is vacant since August 1, 2010, and in MTNL, it is vacant since January 10, 2010.

The appointment shall be on contract and for a period of three years, which can be extended for a further period of three years based on a performance evaluation by an external expert group.

Earlier, the DoT scrapped the list of successful candidates picked by the old selection panel and had set-up the new search-cum-selection panel to carry out the process of selection of CMDs for the two state-run telecom firms.

Meanwhile, government has given the additional charge of BSNL CMD to DoT Member (Services) S C Misra.

The old search-cum-selection committee formed in July, 2010, for the job had come under controversy. The BSNL employees' union had challenged the process and selection made by the old search panel in the Delhi High Court.

The new panel is headed by Pitroda. Other members in this panel are UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair and Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar.