Competition panel may get to hire soon

The body, which looks into anti-competitive activities, and ensures fair practices by companies, has been functioning with 15 officials, other than the chairman and five members.

“MCA is expected to notify service rules for officials at the levels such as section officers, under secretary, deputy secretary, director and joint secretary this week, and by the end of this month we (CCI) expect to get resumes from a pool of talent ranging from government officials to those engaged in the private sector," said a senior official at CCI. MCA is the parent ministry for CCI and is responsible for making all appointments in the body.

The official also said some officials would move from within the government, while others would be hired from the industry. A second CCI official confirmed the move. “The government is about to notify these rules. It’s high time more officials are added, as it (the lack of manpower) is affecting the functioning of CCI which has already notified rules regarding its action in cartelisation and monopolization."

Both officials asked not to be identified. The first official said the pay structures for the new hires would follow government scales.

This is contrary to the commission’s earlier stance: It wanted a compensation structure between those offered by the government and the corporate sector. This person, however, added: “It is not just the salary that will drive people towards CCI. Competition law is a promising area and new to India. Therefore, many will be drawn by the prospects of making a good career."

The official added that after the Sixth Pay Commission’s report, salaries in government had risen to reasonable levels. Now CCI officials may get Rs30,000-90,000 a month.

That may not be enough to attract the best and the brightest from the corporate sector. “So far, the commission has not created a buzz that it is or it will do a great job for the country’s development and therefore it’s worthwhile joining it," said human resources consultant Anil Sachdev.

Former acting chairman Vinod Dhall said CCI had asked the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, for a study on staffing levels and remuneration. The institute had recommended pay parity with regulators in the financial sector, as well as a staff strength of 240 in the first year.

sangeeta.s@livemint.com