At a time when the Modi Government is attempting to bring in transparency in the bureaucracy selection system, the Railway Ministry’s empanelment of General Managers (GMs) has raised eyebrows as it has considered names of some “tainted” officials who have faced serious charges of corruption, bungling and flouting of recruitment rules in their earlier postings.
The Ministry last week had recommended to DoPT names of three tainted officers for PMO’s approval towards the appointment of General Managers at zonal railways, including for Eastern Railways (ER) and North Frontier Railways (NFR).
Source said the names of the three officers empanelled as GMs were deferred by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) earlier on the basis of difference of opinion between the CVC and disciplinary authorities.
From the set of 25 senior-most officers (which includes names of HK Jaggi, Anil Handa, Mohd Jamshed and Ashwani lohani), the Railways were to empanel 15 of them. The names of tainted officials MK Gupta, Chahatey Ram and RN Mishra were not in the original list but at a later stage they were included in the list as serial numbers 7A, 11A and 11B as supplements to Rajeev Gupta (7) and AK Goel (11).
During their earlier posting, Gupta, Ram and Mishra were chargesheeted in
various corruption cases with minor penalties.
Sources said the process of appointment of Board Member (Electrical) was also delayed by over three months. The post, which fell vacant in December 2016, was filled by Ashwani Kumar Kapoor only last week despite several important electrical-related works, including the electrical loco projects in Bihar being on the anvil and closely monitored by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.
The posts of General Manager are highly sensitive within the Indian Railways system. It carries a considerable amount of financial and administrative powers and has been made even more significant following a directive from Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who has since empowered the GMs to take vital financial decisions on their own instead of rushing to the Rail Bhawan for all clearances.
“Charges on Gupta were proved and based on the recommendations of CVC, punishment was imposed and he was removed from service in 2004-05. He was reinstated after a court order even though the vigilance watchdog did not issue any vigilance clearance. His name was not included in GM panel then. Gupta was promoted to Chief Administrator/Construction, Central Railway to make him eligible for GM,” explained a railway official.
Along with Gupta, the ministry also considered Chahatey Ram, currently posted as Chief Administrator Officer/ Construction/North Western Railways/Jaipur for GM. While Gupta was accused of misappropriation in dealing with group B selection process, Ram was issued a penalty during his posting as DRM lucknow. He also faced complaint in his incumbent capacity making it the reason why he was not included in GMs’ panel earlier. As for Mishra, a minor penalty was imposed on him, and according to a DoPT officer, the promotion rules for high level at ACC takes into account “person with highest integrity throughout the services and seamless track record”.
“Under FR 56 J and rule 48 of CCS pension rules, officers having doubtful integrity can be given compulsory retirement, even without any established charges against them. However, in the present circumstances officers against whom serious charges have been established are proposed for promotion to GMs making it doubtful,” said a senior DoPT official.
The appointment and posting of three GMs were also affected on account of a Mumbai Bench CAT order staying the process following Gupta’s petition in CAT/Mumbai when he was not empanelled for GM.