While the ailing airline major, Air India is still finding it tough to make a comeback in the Indian market, Independent directors at Air India have started exerting their role in the company's functioning.

In fact, the strategic committee on human resources-which includes independent directors like Ficci secretary-general Amit Mitra, Ambuja Realty chairman Harsh Neotia and former air chief marshal Fali H Major have recently said that they are not agreed on the proposal of inducting professionals in areas like strategy and HR.

It has been learned by the sources that the committee has opposed the open advertisement of Air India to induct professionals in strategy, HR, IT and corporate communications. Sources have also said that the committee has said that the company the go for outside professionals only if there are no suitable internal candidates.

It may be noted here that the company has four clear strategic committees - HR, audit, strategic issues and finance - each headed by independent directors, which function as the sub-committees to the company's board.

For the uninitiated, Mahindra & Mahindra vice-chairman and MD Anand Mahindra is the head of audit and finance committee.