The Chief General Manager (CGM) in the legal wing of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has landed himself in trouble for recommending permanent absorption of several officials in finance and technical wings of the authority without having their mandatory vigilance clearance.
NHAI Member (Finance) has sought detailed report from the Member (Administration) and advised for immediate cancellation of the appointments on absorption of the officials terming it “illegal selection”. NHAI sources said that CGM PC Grover allegedly endorsed the proposal of his subordinate, who was functioning with dual charge of CGM (legal) and CGM (Administration), by taking refuge through a DoPT Office Memorandum applicable only for promotion, not for permanent absorptions.
The recommendations for absorption, particularly in case of two officials GD Sharma and SK Chauhan, both Manager (Finance) who an audit report reveals were involved in serious financial irregularities, has been questioned by Member (Finance), NHAI. The CVO of NHAI had not given vigilance clearance in their case but had intimated their vigilance status.
“In case of both these officers, there were prima facie evidence and variable allegations to establish serious irregularities and corrupt practice in their official dealings and their names were under reference to the CVC. Going by the vigilance manual, both these officers should not have been absorbed at the first place,” sources said.
However, contrary to the stipulated guidelines, Grover twisted the DoPT vigilance instructions and recommended these officer’s names for their permanent absorption in NHAI without first ascertaining vigilance clearance from CVO and their appointment orders were issued. A senior MoRTH official reviewing this case said, “He was not just administration in-charge, but also chief of the service laws in NHAI. How can such serious lapse on his part happen repeatedly in so many cases and on many occasionsIJ”
Grover is working as CGM (legal) on contract in NHAI after his superannuation of 60 years, whereas the DoPT guidelines say, “No proposal of service/re-employment beyond the age of superannuation shall be considered and no person can be appointed/re-appointed in Central Government services after the age of superannuation of sixty years through contract.” MoRTH is likely to write to NHAI to first advertise the post for fresh recruitment on deputation like other ministries or nodal organisations, PSEs and PSUs do.