Uniform service norms for watchdogs on cards

NEW DELHI: The government is planning to standardise service conditions of officers of various regulatory agencies such as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).

The department of personnel and training has drafted a note seeking integration of salaries, perks, allowances and tenure of members and chairman of all regulatory authorities.

“Service conditions of regulatory authorities are currently stipulated by the concerned Acts. For example, in case of airport regulator it is Aera Act. The Trai Act lays service conditions for the officials of telecom regulator. The personnel department has proposed to unify the service criteria for all agencies,” a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The official said that personnel department had sought the views of various ministries on the proposal. The changes would remove complex work code specified for each regulator and ensure right talent is attracted to take up the regulatory job. It may also extend the term of all regulators from the present three years to a uniform five years.

Through the new regulatory changes, government also intends to ensure uniformity in regulations that is presently divergent with each regulator enjoying different sets of power.

The changes may also propose setting up a separate department of regulatory affairs within ministry of personnel to ensure continuity regulatory reforms and governance. A suggestion in this regard has also been given by the Planning Commission.

It may also bar secretaries to government of India from taking up regulatory position in the same sector immediately after their retirement. The move is aimed ensuring free and fair status of for regulators who as secretaries may have facilitated a concession that they now have to regulate.

The changes have been facilitated by regulators themselves who have expressed their displeasure at the present working conditions for them. At an earlier meeting of regulators, they had demanded a longer tenure and higher emoluments.