'I will follow govt orders'

Speaking to MiD DAY yesterday, AI's CMD Arvind Jadhav confirmed he had been handed the pink slip

In a move confirmed to MiD DAY by the man in the centre of the storm himself, Air India's controversial CMD Arvind Jadhav has been issued marching orders by the civil aviation ministry.

Rohit Nandan, a 1982-batch IAS officer and the joint secretary of the civil aviation ministry, was appointed the new interim managing director of the debt-ridden airline with immediate effect yesterday.
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Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi will be the interim chairman.

Speaking to MiD DAY, Jadhav said, "I have come to know about the development but I have not got any official orders yet. I can only say that I have been appointed by the Government of India and if the government wants to remove me, I will respect their orders."

He added that he would not challenge his ouster in the Central Administrative Tribunal.
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A senior civil aviation ministry official said a note related to the appointment of the new MD was sent to the Cabinet Committee on appointments and then to the PMO by the civil aviation ministry.

"The PMO finally approved our request to change the CMD. Nandan will be the new interim MD and Zaidi will be the interim Chairman.
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The hunt for a new CMD will begin now," said the official. MiD DAY had reported about Jadhav's imminent ouster on August 8.