After sacking the present Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Dr Avinash Chander, to make way for younger scientists, the Defence Ministry is planning to restructure the organisation by splitting the posts of DRDO chief and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri into two. Currently, the post is held by one person, who also is the Secretary Defence Research and Development (R&D), making it three-in-one.
Under the new configuration, sources said, DRDO Director General may also be the Secretary Defence R&D and will be senior to the Scientific Adviser to RM. “We are thinking about splitting the dual position of a DRDO chief and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri. There should be two separate people for these two roles. However, nothing has been finalised as of now,” said a senior official.
Meanwhile, Dr K Tamilmani cluster head of aeronautics in DRDO, and a scientist responsible the light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) programme is likely to take over as the interim chief of the DRDO from February 1 when the current chief Dr Chander demits office on January 31.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, on the sidelines of Army Day function at Gen Dalbir Singh’s residence, said that that the senior most will take over from next month as the DRDO head.
Dr Chander’s contract was abruptly terminated by the Government on Tuesday night. His contract was renewed in November 2014. Parrikar justified the move saying that the Government’s impetus is to push younger blood at higher ranks in defence research. Incidentally, Dr Tamilmani too is on his second extension of two years.
However, the Government maintains that Chander has not been sacked but given time till January 31 to wind up his work. Hence, Chander remains DRDO chief till January 31. Parrikar said the tenure of Chander had ended in November but was extended on contractual basis due the previous Government’s decision. “At these senior positions, they should not be on contract. There are so many eligible, (someone) should be brought among them. We will find out someone good from the DRDO, who has the urge for development. We should introduce a slightly younger generation in the scientific world,” Parrikar had said following Chander’s sacking.
However, the Government has not named any successor from the younger generation to lead the organisation so far which is why Tamilmani, being the No 2 man in DRDO after Chander will handle the organisation for a while, sources said.