Sir — This refers to the editorial, “PM isn’t above the law” (October 18). The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a FIR against former Coal Secretary PC Parakh and one of the country’s top industrialists, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, alleging their conspiracy in the allotment of a coal block to Hindalco. To say that, finding himself in the dock, the former Coal Secretary is seeking to muddy the waters by dragging in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s name, is unfair. Anyone in his position would retaliate by telling the facts.
Decisions are taken at the ministerial level, not at the bureaucratic level. Recommendation made by the Secretary are not binding on the Minister concerned. According to Mr Parakh, the issue of coal block allotment was discussed with the Prime Minister in October 2004, and a cut-off date of June 28, 2004, was set. Allotment on applications received before that date was to be made through the screening committee route, and thereafter, through bidding.
If the allotment of coal blocks through the screening committee route was made in 2005, the Prime Minister, who was then holding the Coal Ministry, cannot escape responsibility.