The department of telecommunications (DoT) has recalled joint secretary JS Deepak from the BSNL board.

As a government nominee on the state-run telcos? board, Deepak had opposed the controversial 93-million-line tender costing Rs 36,000 crore for its inflated size and cost. He along with another government nominee PK Mittal had submitted a dissent note last December, as first reported by FE.

In January, Mittal was promptly dropped from the board and transferred out of DoT. Officials said there were efforts to shunt even Deepak, but the Cabinet Secretariat, which decides about IAS officers? transfer, did not go along. Mittal, in contrast, is an Indian Telecommunication Service officer and the decision lay with DoT. He was transferred to BSNL.

Sources said the decision to recall Deepak, who is a joint secretary in DoT, from the board was taken on March 17.

Telecom minister A Raja was reportedly unhappy with him for his opposition to the tender, which was later scrapped after the Central Vigilance Commission and Sam Pitroda committee slammed it. Raja had vigorously batted for the tender award, even seeking the Prime Minister?s intervention when the CVC was investigating the charges of irregularities.

As first reported by FE earlier this month, DoT secretary P J Thomas had even sought an explanation from Deepak for opposing the tender. Interestingly, the secretary had done this when he himself, as a part of the Pitroda committee, had recommended for the scrapping of the tender.

The decision to recall Deepak from the BSNL board was preceded by taking away from him all administrative work related to the PSU.