Govt tells Air India to freeze all appointments, promotions

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi-led government, in the wake of its proposed privatisation, has asked India’s  largest commercial airline, Air India to freeze all promotion and appointments in the company. Besides, the airline has also been asked to not start any new flights until it is extremely necessary.  The direction has come from the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management or DIPAM.

“The direction came almost a week back. It says that due to impending privatization, no major initiatives have to be taken up. There will be freeze on appointments and promotions,” an official source told IANS.

After failing to find a bidder in its previous term, the Modi 2.0 government is working on war-footing to sell Air India to a private player. It has already reconstituted the group of ministers (GoM) to decide the course of privatisation. The reconstituted GoM headed by Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to meet in the next few weeks to take decisions pertaining to Air India’s privatisation.