Labanyendu Mansingh, chairman of oil regulatory board

NEW DELHI: The government has appointed Labanyendu Mansingh, former consumer affairs secretary, as the head of the regulatory board set up to oversee downstream oil refining and fuel marketing sector.

Prime Minister's Office has cleared the appointment of Mansingh as the chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, highly placed sources said.

Mansingh, who retired as the secretary in the department of consumer affairs, food and public distribution on October 31, 2006, is a post-graduate in political science.

Besides Mansingh, three other members including LK Singhvi, former chief commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi, and Bhagwat Singh Negi, former director (business development), GAIL, have been appointed.

Sudha Mahalingam, who is currently working with Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for contempary Studies, Museum and Library, has also been approved as a member to the regulatory board.