The HRD Ministry on Monday apparently shielded an irregular appointment made by the erstwhile UPA regime.
The Ministry told Parliament that the appointment of incumbent Director at National Bal Bhawan (NBB) Usha Kumari MC was done by a "competent authority" on the basis of three names shortlisted by a panel in 2013.
"For the appointment of Director, NBB, a search-cum-selection committee was constituted by the MHRD. The committee after interviewing 26 candidates, unanimously recommended three names viz Rishi Kumar Vashisht, Usha Kumari MC and Jyotsana Tiwari for appointment to the post. The competent authority after going through the bio-data of these three candidates, found Usha Kumari most suitable for the post. Accordingly Kumari joined as Director NBB on deputation in January 2013," HRD Minister Smriti Irani stated in a reply to former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel in the Rajya Sabha.
The names were indeed in a preference order where Usha Kumari figured second. However, it was here that Irani's predecessor MM Pallam Raju favoured Usha Kumari, who was the wife of a top IAS officer who had served as Private Secretary to late Arjun Singh during his tenure as HRD Minister.
In doing so, Raju overruled the recommendation of the Ministry's search-cum-selection panel. Incidentally, Irani's reply comes days after she herself stated in the lok Sabha that she is looking into cases of nepotism undertaken by her predecessor.
The search-cum-selection panel was headed by the then Additional Secretary Amarjit Singh, who had indicated that if Vashisht is denied, Usha was to be appointed.
In reply to another query regarding the action over the overruling, the Ministry said the matter is sub judice since Vashisht has moved court against the HRD Ministry.
Former NCERT Director
JS Rajput, who has served as Chairman of the Bal Bhawan, said that the institute used to be a centre of excellence for children but during the last couple of years lot of irregularities including some controversial appointments have been reported which is not a healthy sign for institute which caters to children.
"The institute is not at all being managed professionally. We had introduced several technical and science learning projects to enhance the creative potential of children. It pains me a lot to know the autonomy of the institute has been hijacked to express nepotism. The present dispensation should take care to restore its legacy. Given an opportunity the institute can do wonders," said Rajput.