72 posts vacant at Competition Commission: Govt

New Delhi, March 15: More than one-third of the total sanctioned posts at fair trade watchdog Competition Commission of India (CCI) are lying vacant, Parliament was informed on Tuesday, March 15.

As against total 197 sanctioned posts, 125 have been filled, Minister of Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley said in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

As on date, 72 posts are vacant, he said, adding that vacancies are existing due to non-availability of candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria. CCI has advertised for filling up 65 posts at various levels. In addition, the fair trade regulator has engaged 38 experts and research associates in the streams of economics, law and financial analysis.

CCI keeps a tab on unfair business practices across sectors and has clamped down on various anti-competitive ways.

It comes under the administrative control of the Corporate Affairs Ministry. Last year, the regulator had raised the pay packet for experts and professionals hired by it. Now, they are eligible for 10 per cent increment after completing one year. For experts and professionals, the regulator had hiked monthly remuneration by Rs 10,000 at all levels.

They are classified into five categories based on their experience.

PTI