For 1995-96, for example, the first year of Soni's tenure, the Ministry's figures show an increase of around 2.7 million tonne in crude oil production. What it fails to state, however, is that this figure is 2.6 million tonne less than that projected by ONGC itself in its annual memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the ministry at the beginning of the year.

In the subsequent year, 1996-97, ONGC's productionfell by a massive 7 million tonne, and hence fell well short of the target set in the MoU. Production increased by around 4 million tonne in the next year, and is likely to remain stagnant at that level in the current year. The reason why the data for 1996-97 and beyond was not provided to PESB, apparently, was that the review being sought was only for 1995-96. Logically, this fall in production should also be put at Soni's door, if the first year's hike in production was credited to him.

PESB was asked, on October 5 this year, to confirm Soni's appointment to the job on completion of one year of service. He was appointed on March 29, 1995, but no review - mandatory under the rules - was conducted in 1996. Soni was, therefore, never confirmed in the post. Once PESB confirmed Soni for the job, the Ministry told PESB, they would automatically give him an extension for two years.

Sources in PESB reveal that it cleared the papers a few days ago. The papers were cleared by `rotation' -- they were sent to eachmember, who cleared them, and passed them on to the next for his approval. "The ONGC chief had given very good reviews, and the Ministry's figures corroborated this", says one of the members contacted by The Indian Express. Formal orders granting Soni a two year extension, as per the general extension to bureaucrats and PSU employees, are expected to be issued soon.

Processing of Soni's papers had got delayed earlier as the Ministry was unable to get the comments of the former petroleum secretary Probir Sengupta for the period 1997-98 -- Sengupta was on tour and had promised to do this when he came back around the 15th of last month. Sengupta has not given his comments so far though he is now back in town.

But since the Ministry was in a hurry to process the papers, they checked with the PESB as to whether this was necessary at all. The Secretary of the PESB is believed to have told the ministry representative that what was required for Soni's confirmation, was data for the period1995-96.

Sources in the PESB say that while the Ministry was technically correct in providing data only for 1995-96, it was unusual for them not to provide data for later years, especially since this showed a fall in production and a shortfall over the targets. They did not, however, ask for this data as their job was to assess the performance only for 1995-96.

What is surprising, is that ONGC has not taken this into account at all in the past. ONGC chief, BC Bora's recommendations for Soni, in fact, said that "he (Soni) has positive potential to succeed the Chief Executive." This, despite the fact that the Narayanan committee had passed severe strictures on ONGC on the way its biggest field, Bombay High, has been handled in the past. "What is important for our review", the Narayanan Committee had said, "is that the field is being flogged even today. .... If even half a chance is given... ONGC would... let things slide again."