The Court of Audit, in a letter to Azoji, CEO of the National Pension Fund, declared the appointment of Majid Khodabakhsh, a 70-year-old retired manager, as CEO of Padjam Company to be against the law prohibiting the employment of retirees. This action led to the cancellation of Khodabakhsh's appointment, which had previously sparked a wave of criticism from industry activists and the media.
Blatant Violation in Appointment
The interesting point in this case is the blatant violation in employing a manager who was dismissed from the governorship of East Azerbaijan over a decade ago due to the same law. It is still unclear on what basis the CEO position of Padjam was entrusted to him. The insistence and efforts of senior managers to keep Khodabakhsh in this position is an issue that Feydus had previously reported on, revealing that Khodabakhsh's connection with Salari, head of the Social Security Organization, and Ali Panahi's group in the Ministry of Welfare, to meet the demands of this group in Padjam contracts, was a significant factor in this selection.
Behind-the-Scenes Agreements
One part of this agreement was Khodabakhsh's consent to add an annex to the contracting agreement of Salari's brother in this company, which paved the way for this retired manager to enter the Padjam complex. Now, it remains to be seen what decision the group supporting Khodabakhsh will make following the Court of Audit's ruling and whether they will comply with the court's decision or engage in a legal battle to keep this 70-year-old manager in Padjam.