All Officers shortlisted for CVC tainted- Who heads dishonesty?

CVC drags Govt deeper
February 03, 2011 11:57:16 AM
Abraham Thomas | New Delhi
Reveals that all 9 officers shortlisted for CVC’s post were tainted

Raising a serious question mark over the procedures followed by the Centre in the empanelment of IAS officers from States, CVC PJ Thomas on Tuesday revealed that all the nine officers who were empanelled with the Centre in 2008 — including him — were chargesheeted or had complaints pending against them. Singling him out as a “unique case” was not proper, he pointed out.

The charge made by Thomas in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court has put a question mark on the whole empanelment process which allows any officer to move from States to the Centre and occupy an important position in the Union Government.

The Government had claimed that while empanelling Thomas as Central Government officer in 2008, CVC clearance was obtained and this was held out to be a certificate of his “impeccable integrity”.

The disclosure comes ahead of the Thursday hearing in the Supreme Court when the court is to take a final call on the suitability of Thomas to continue as CVC in view of a pending charge-sheet against him in the palmolein import scam, which dates back to 1991-92 during his tenure as Food Secretary with the Kerala Government.

In his affidavit, Thomas said, “Virtually every single officer in the zone of consideration (for empanelment at Centre) had complaints or chargesheets pending.” Besides him, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) prepared note with regard to eight other officers, who had far more serious charges of corruption, misappropriation and embezzlement listed against them. Except one, all other officers got cleared.

Relying on the data collected from the Department of Personnel and Training, Thomas said, “An impression has been created that my case is a unique one, and that I alone suffer some taint against my name. Clearly, it is routine for officers in the discharge of their duties to have cases slapped against them, many of which are trumped up or politically motivated.”

Defending others of his like who were chargesheeted, the affidavit added, “In an environment where a bureaucrat bears the brunt of protests against governmental action, it is necessary that an objective view be taken of how we officers function.”

But a look at the charges leveled against the officers defies all imagination of how these could be politically motivated. One of the cleared officers BR Kundal has been chargesheeted for misappropriation of sale proceeds of essential commodities. VS Dhumal, another officer whom CVC cleared, faces a complaint of immovable property acquired disproportionate to known sources of his income.

Tejinder Kaur is a unique case who got clearance despite Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recommending action for transfer of 15 acres of Government land to a cricket association, a matter which is sub-judice. There is also one Ashok Kumar, who got cleared despite a complaint pending against him of misuse of office and corrupt practices. Also, one Brajebeharaj Mahapatra survived the CVC scrutiny in the face of a chargesheet regarding wrongly claiming reimbursements and penalty of reduction to lower scale of pay imposed. There is a separate complaint of corruption pending against him in which the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recommended punishment.

Aware of the Centre’s stand in trying to distance itself from the controversy and the subsequent pressure on him to resign, Thomas stood his ground in the affidavit highlighting his merits --- being the senior-most among the serving cadre of Secretaries, and holding experience in administration, vigilance and policy making posts. Making out a case that the palmolein “taint” against him was political, Thomas said, “I have been held out to the public as a tainted officials. This is rather tragic as my record during 37 years of service has been without blemish.”

Tainted Thomas
•Singling him out as a ‘unique case’ not proper, says Thomas
•Allegations could be politically motivated, he submits in court
•Thomas lists his merits as ‘senior-most among the serving Secretaries, and holding experience in administration, vigilance and policy-making’
•Another empanelled member, Tejinder Kaur, got clearance despite CBI recommending action for transfer of 15-acre Govt land, he says
•Brajebeharaj, who had also been empanelled, survived CBI scrutiny despite being indicted by UPSC
•The disclosure comes ahead of the Thursday hearing in the Supreme Court when the court is to take a final call
CVC drags Govt deeper

Corruption disgraces India: PM
New Delhi: Corruption dents India's image, hampers good governance and needs to be tackled "boldly and quickly", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Friday.
"Corruption strikes at the roots of good governance. It is an impediment to faster growth. It dilutes, if not negates, our efforts at social inclusion," Manmohan Singh said, two days after former communications minister A. Raja was arrested for his suspected role in the 2G spectrum scam, billed as the country's biggest to date.
"It dents our international image and it demeans us before our own people," the prime minister said, addressing the second annual conference of chief secretaries of states here.
He said the challenge of corruption needed to "be faced frontally, boldly and quickly".
Corruption dents India's image, tackle it boldly- Read more

Parliament Standing Committee on Defence

Press Communique
Parliament Standing Committee on Defence (2010-11)
Saturday, 5 Feb 2011 18:54 IST
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, headed by Shri Satpal Maharaj, M.P., Lok Sabha have decided to examine various aspects related to the subjects 'Functioning of Military Cantonments & Stations' and 'Management of Defence Land'.

In view of the immense importance of the subjects and for wider consultations, the Committee invites suggestions from the public in general and experts/ professionals/ organizations/ associations and stakeholders interested in the subjects in particular.

Those desirous of submitting the memoranda to the Committee may send two copies (either in English or in Hindi) containing their opinion/views on the above subjects separately to Director (IT&D), Lok Sabha Secretariat, Room No.310, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 in a sealed cover within two weeks from the date of publication/broadcasting of the Press Release. The memorandum can also be e-mailed at comdefence@sansad.nic.in or can be faxed at Fax No.011-23010756.

The memoranda which might be submitted to the Committee would form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as strictly confidential and the contents thereof would not be divulged to anyone, as such an act would constitute a ‘breach of privilege’ of the Committee.

Those who are desirous of giving oral evidence before the Committee, besides sending memoranda, are requested to intimate the Lok Sabha Secretariat to this effect well in advance at the above mentioned address. HH/NA
Parliament Standing Committee on Defence 2010-11

Comment: Sukhna, Adarsh, AWHO and Encroachment/ hijacking of Military Lands and assets by Criminals are a testimony to the growing menace. The ESM organisations need to take up the cudgels to preserve Military Lands vital for National Security. A sample case is the Gymkhana Club which comprises acres of Military Land in Chennai has been hijacked by vested interests- The rental paid is peanuts- The MOD has been silenced by bribes. Hundreds of similar cases in connivance with DEO go undetected throughout length and breadth of the Nation.

Pak nuclear card limits Indian anti-terror options

Dear Colleagues,
You all would have heard the news of K Subramanyam’s sad demise on 2 Feb 2011. Born in 1929, he was the most well known strategic analyst who wielded considerable influence in India’s security policy formation. Founding Director of our Institute of Defence Studies, he also chaired many committees and commissions of inquiry. This included one on the Kargil War.
He had argued in favour of our military intervention in East Pakistan in 1971. This had attracted criticism from several quarters including from our then Army Chief Sam Manekshaw.
Subramanyam was a major advocate of the 2007 Indo-US Nuclear Deal, thus adding strong support to the Manmohan Singh government that was facing still opposition on the issue. In fact he might have also played a formal role in helping the deal come through.
He was one of the few eminent Indian strategists who pushed hard for a pre-emptive strike on Pakistan's Kahuta nuclear complex in early 1980s when news broke that Pakistan was in advanced stage of developing a bomb. He must have foreseen the coming Pakistani nuclear blackmail, of which General Harwant has spoken eloquently in his Tribune article today click here. Views may differ but there is no denying the fact that India is still paying the price for missing that opportunity. Pakistan's support to Punjab militancy and the initiation of a jihad in Kashmir, not to speak of Mumbai and other terrorist attacks, would perhaps never have happened had India paid heed to Subrahmanyam's advice.
In K Subramanyam’s passing away we have lost a great thinking mind.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

K Subrahmanyam (1929 - 2011), the strategic guru for most Indian security analysts who passed away on Feb 2 after a long struggle with diabetes and cancer combined the finest qualities of head and heart. A civil servant who shunned the trappings of power in a hierarchy obsessed society - he opted for the monk like austerity of the think-tank.
K Subrahmanyam - Strategic Guru: Read more