Director (R&D) in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) R K Malhotra has been given additional charge as Chairman of the Maharatna company, till the time the Government finds a regular head for the State-owned retailer.
A statement issued by IOC on Monday said, "Malhotra has been entrusted additional charge as Chairman, IOC. He continues to head IOC's Research and Development Division as Director."
Though the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) in October 2013 had cleared Executive Director in IOC B Ashok's candidature as the new Chairman to succeed R S Butola, who retired on May 31, his file is still stuck with the PMO.
Ashok had even got vigilance clearance and the Home Ministry had cleared his candidature. However after his file was sent by the Petroleum Ministry to the PMO, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not sign it, thus leaving it on the newly formed NDA Government to take a call on it. With the Government yet to take any decision on Ashok's fate, Malhotra has been additional charge as head of IOC.