(7 May 2009 2:50 pm)

NEW DELHI: Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (Tdsat) member JS Sarma is the frontrunner to be the new Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman.

Source close to the development said that Sarma has been approached by the committee.

A senior Trai official on condition of anonymity told Indiantelevision.com, "JS Sarma is the hot favourite to become the new Trai chairman."

At present, AK Sawhney is the acting chairman of Trai. Sawhney took charges from Nripendra Misra, who retired on 22 March, 2009 after three-year tenure.

Sarma was appointed a member of Tdsat on 28 July, 2008. He had earlier worked as secretary Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and chairman Telecom Commission from June 2005 to July 2006.

He was also appointed as secretary of Department of Fertilisers.

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