The national road making agency, NHAI, is trying to hush up an Enquiry Report by its Chief General Manager (CGM) submitted in pursuance to the Central Information Commission (CIC) order in January this year. The matter pertains to appellant DP Majhi, Under Secretary, now working in HRD Ministry, who has alleged that NHAI is deliberately trying to delay and dilute the CIC enquiry.
The CIC had directed NHAI Chairman for a “thorough enquiry” to be completed within three weeks and to take administrative action on erring officers responsible for missing of applications of appellant Majhi for his absorption in NHAI.However, though enquiry was completed, relevant documents have revealed that giving a false pretext for “vigilance” involvement in the matter, NHAI “re-looked” the matter thereafter changed the Enquiry Officer in an attempt to hush up the report. Sources confirmed that NHAI has not yet submitted any report to CIC even after lapse of four months.
The authority has informed CIC that the report submitted by CGM Col (Retd) Khushwant Singh is “inconclusive” and now NHAI Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) would enquire into the matter since it involves “vigilance angle”.on to the Information Commission says that the NHAI CVO, who is also the new Enquiry Officer himself, has stated that “there is no vigilance angle” involved in the matter and it is “purely administrative in nature”.
“Such misleading and false facts being submitted to a constitutional body has serious repercussions”, a senior Road Transport ministry officer said. Incidentally, VK Sharma, CGM, one of the “indicted” officers in the enquiry, is now holding additional charge of CGM (administration) whereas file relating to Sharma’s own “illegal” induction in NHAI has gone missing and a separate enquiry is under progress. This enquiry is being conducted as per CIC direction on the basis of a complaint by NHAI’s General Manager Vishnu Darbari.
Sharma’s ‘illegal’ selection in the post of CGM (land Acquisition) was also challenged by Darbari in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and CAT has now pronounced order in favour of Darbari.