Will the central government introduce a new policy for the heads of public sector enterprises? Can the tenure of PSUs chiefs be decided with the firmness that they will not get extensions in service after retirement? The latest case is related to the Ministry of Jal Shakti and its consultancy organization and public sector undertaking Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited (WAPCOS). WAPCOS appointed RK Gupta as its CMD in 2010. Gupta held the post for the next 5 years till 2015 and after that, he was again given an extension of 3 years with the help of his well-wishers.

The extension of service was approved by ACC and he was re-employed as CMD of WAPCOS for a period of two years from the date of his superannuation on 01.10.2018. Not only this, but Gupta also held the additional charge of CMD of another mini Ratna NPCC along with WAPCOS for a year. When RK Gupta retired from his post in September 2020, he did not give up and opened a consultancy firm in Connaught Place, New Delhi, and started lending his skills to other companies directly or with a side glance for WAPCOS related works. Not only this, but Gupta’s nephew has also started a similar consultancy firm which is providing new dimensions to his uncle’s competencies. Even though Devashree Mukherjee, the additional secretary of the Ministry of Jal Sakti, has been appointed as the new CMD of WAPCOS, Gupta still holds his grip in the PSU. Well, Gupta is not the sole beneficiary, but this is the story of dozens of PSUs. One such example is also of NBCC subsidiary HSCC, where CMD Gyanesh Pandey has been in his post since 2012. He has been in this position for 9 years, retiring in July this year. Sources say he is also pushing for his extension, given his political clout, one should not be surprised if he gets another service extension.