As many as 40 central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) are running without a regular chief executive, parliament was informed today. These include MTNL, Shipping Corporation of India, NMDC and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, minister of state for heavy industries and public enterprises Babul Supriyo informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply. He said the reason for vacant positions of chief executives in CPSEs is unforeseen vacancies due to resignation, death, vertical shift of incumbents, non-confirmation, non-extension of tenure of incumbents or scrapping of the recommended panel by the competent authority.

Pending vigilance clearance or approval of the competent authority, court cases, creation of new posts and decision of the administrative ministry to keep a particular post in abeyance, are some other causes for the posts lying vacant. Some of the other CPSEs without regular chief executives are Hindustan Cables, Bramhaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation, HMT, Eastern Coalfields, Scooters India, ITI, Andrew Yule & Company, etc.