Former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Appointed Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank
Mumbai, June 29, KNT: HDFC Bank on Monday appointed former Chief Election Commissioner and retired IAS officer Rajiv Kumar as its Part-time Chairman and an Additional Independent Director, marking the entry of a veteran public policy and financial sector administrator into the country’s largest private sector bank.
The bank’s Board of Directors approved Kumar’s appointment as an Additional Independent Director for a four-year term with effect from June 30, 2026, subject to shareholders’ approval. His appointment as Part-time Chairman for a three-year term will take effect after obtaining approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
In a regulatory filing, HDFC Bank described Rajiv Kumar as a seasoned public policy leader and financial sector reformer. A 1984-batch IAS officer, he served as Secretary, Department of Financial Services, where he played a key role in banking sector reforms, including the clean-up of stressed assets, recapitalisation and consolidation of public sector banks, strengthening governance and expanding financial inclusion.
Following his retirement as Finance Secretary in February 2020, Kumar briefly served as Chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board before being appointed the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India. During his tenure, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections recorded the participation of about 642 million voters, including nearly 312 million women electors.
The bank also informed the stock exchanges that Kumar is not debarred from holding the office of a director by any regulatory authority. In view of the appointment, the Board approved a revised notice for the bank’s 32nd Annual General Meeting scheduled for August 5, 2026, to include the necessary resolutions for shareholders’ approval. [KNT]
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![PCC Asks DC Pulwama to Shut Down Illegal Brick Kilns, 18 Brick Kilns Face Regulatory Violations, 7 Listed Without Consent Pulwama, Aug 8, KNT: Pollution Control Committee has asked Deputy Commissioner to shut down illegal brick kilns in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. The latest status of brick kilns operating in south Kashmir's Pulwama district has revealed serious regulatory concerns, with 18 units listed either without consent, with expired Consent to Operate (CTO), or under a “Refused” status. The status details show that seven brick kilns are listed as operating “Without consent”, indicating that the units do not have the required regulatory consent to operate. The seven units are Dar Brick Kiln (415) at Alliepora Shahoora, LBK changed into Bhat Brick Kiln (151) at Nownagri Pulwama, Kamran Brick Kiln 777 at Parigam Newa, Budshah Brick Kiln at Audoora Pulwama, JKB Sanzan (151) at Astapora Sanzan, 417 Brick Kiln changed into 7HH at Achan Litter Pulwama, and Five Star Brick Kiln at Wahipora Pulwama. The list further shows eight brick kilns with expired CTOs, meaning their consent to operate has lapsed. These include Hilal Brick Kiln, Allie Brick Kiln, Bashir Ahmad Magray, Sunflower Brick Kiln, Jalal Brick Kiln, Magray Brick Kiln, Thoker Brick Kiln (A-No) and Shahoorа Brick Kiln (ATM). Another three units have been marked “Refused” in the consent status. These are Mir Brick Kiln at Hastikhud Zadoora Newa, Gulmour Brick Kiln at Tumchinowpora and Dar Brick Kiln at Tumchinowpora. The status as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust also contains brick kilns holding valid CTOs, indicating that the regulatory violations are not uniform across the district. The findings assume significance in view of the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee's direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, to initiate action against brick kilns operating without the requisite permissions and in violation of environmental regulations. The presence of multiple units with expired or refused consent, besides those listed without consent altogether, raises serious questions over their continued operation and the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement in the district. The concerned authorities are now expected to verify the operational status of these units and take action against those found functioning without valid statutory consent. [KNT]](https://newsagencyknt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Brick-Kiln-390x220.jpg)
