DoT has decided to end the deputation of some 1,000 officials to the state-owned telecom companies, BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), without making any provision for absorbing them in some other area in these two firms. There are about 2,200 government officials on deputation to these two firms. Most of them wanted to return to the government unless they were provided with more growth opportunities in the telecom companies. However, DoT did not have enough work for the officials and their ongoing negotiations to recall the officers failed. Meanwhile, various BSNL officials moved various courts and got a stay order against DoT's move to make them redundant. The Supreme Court recently dismissed a government plea to vacate the stay order. Despite this, DoT issued "repatriation" orders for some 1,000 officials who were not covered by the stay orders. Many senior officials of BSNL and MTNL will be relieved of their duties immediately, leaving a vacuum in leadership at the PSUs.