The government today invited applications from candidates in the public and private sector for the posts of Chairman and Managing Director of two telecom PSUs -- BSNL and MTNL.

If candidates from the private sector are selected, this will be the first time that these telecom PSUs are headed by chiefs from the private sector.

The government has constituted a Search-cum-Selection panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary for finding suitable candidates for these posts.

As per the terms and conditions of the job, the government has offered a maximum package of up to Rs 30 lakh for the posts.

According to the DoT, the candidate should possess adequate experience at a board-level position or one level below the board-level in public or private sector companies preferably of comparable size.

"Experience in turning around companies facing difficult circumstances would be given weightage," it added.

In the case of candidates from the private sector, only people working with listed entities will be allowed to apply for the post.

Usually, the responsibility of selecting professionals for public sector units (PSUs) rests with the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB). The deviation in the selection process for BSNL and MTNL is being done as part of restructuring to make them financially viable, as recommended by the Sam Pitroda panel.

BSNL's incumbent CMD, Kuldip Goyal, is retiring on July 31, while the post of CMD at MTNL is currently being administered by Director (Technical) Kuldeep Singh as an additional charge.

As per the terms and conditions of the job, the CMD will be offered a payscale of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1,25,000, with the benefits applicable to the Chief Executives of these companies.

"Normally, pay will be fixed at the lowest of the scale of Rs 80,000. But for suitable candidates, it can be fixed at any point within the scale, including the maximum of the pay scale," the DoT said.

The new CMDs of telecom PSUs BSNL and MTNL will be hired on a contract basis with a fixed term of three years, which can be extended for a further period of three years based on performance evaluation by an external expert group.

Interested candidates have been asked to apply to the Telecom Secretary by August 16, 2010.