The Hindu : Front Page : ``Fernandes okayed IAF aircraft for Phukan's travel''

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Thursday, May 05, 2005

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``Fernandes okayed IAF aircraft for Phukan's travel''

Vinay Kumar

Phukan also visited Ajanta and Ellora: Pranab

NEW DELHI: : The approval for providing an Indian Air Force (IAF) service aircraft to the Justice Phukan Commission for travel to Pune, Mumbai and other places in December 2003 was granted by the then Defence Minister, George Fernandes, Parliament was told on Wednesday.

The Commission was looking into defence deals reached during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime following disclosures of corruption made by a newsportal in its videotapes.

Apart from visiting Pune, Ahmednagar, Mumbai and the Shirdi shrine, the Commission members made a trip to the Ajanta and Ellora caves on December 25, 2003, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha while replying to queries seeking clarifications on his statement about the visit.

"Since I received the information about the visit to the Ajanta and Ellora caves late, it could not be included in my statement." He did not say what was the mode of transport.

In his statement the Minister said: "Normally for visits of a Commission, IAF aircraft are not provided." As for entitled personages, when the journey was not for defence purposes, the cost would be recovered according to scales prescribed from time to time,he said suggesting that the Commission had committed a gross impropriety by asking for and using IAF aircraft. Mr. Mukherjee said he was informing the House after ascertaining the facts contained in an article in a newsweekly earlier this week about the Commission's visit to Pune and other places. "Justice K. Venkataswami, who headed the Commission earlier, did not find it necessary to visit any of the places to inspect the defence equipment," the Minister said. Justice Venkataswami quit in November 2002 and Justice Phukan was appointed in January 2003. On October 4 last, the United Progressive Alliance Government did not extend the term of the Phukan Commission and it had to wind up.

Sequence of events

Mr. Mukherjee said the Commission's Secretary on December 19, 2003 wrote to the Defence Ministry saying the Chairman had directed that equipment bought in past defence transactions and located at various places be inspected at Pune, Ahmednagar, Bangalore and Mumbai from December 22, 2003. Mr. Fernandes approved the provision of an IAF service aircraft on December 22, 2003.

Justice S.N. Phukan was accompanied by his wife and eight officers — Vijay Hansaria, senior counsel; Yogesh Malhotra, Pragyan Sharma, Rahul Bezbaruah, S.K. Dasgupta, Secretary to the Commission; J.P. Mehta, Suresh Chander Chawla and S.L. Bunker from the Defence Ministry. None of them was a weapons expert. The Commission and its entourage did not visit Bangalore. Mr. Mukherjee said instructions on the use of VIP aircraft were issued by the Defence Ministry on January 6, 1981 and these remained unchanged till now. Only the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister were entitled to the use of the VIP aircraft. The Ministers for Defence and Home, the Minister of State in the Defence Ministry, the three services chiefs, the Defence Secretary, other ministers of the Central Government, senior services and civilian officers who were connected with the defence organisation and the Cabinet Secretary were also entitled to the use of the VIP aircraft, if it was essential and an aircraft was available. For them, the Defence Minister's written permission for the use of the VIP aircraft was mandatory, Mr. Mukherjee said.

"It is expected that, except the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister, users will make use of commercial air services on official duty, whenever possible. The aircraft of the VIP flight are to be used on official duty only," as per the guidelines. Mr. Mukherjee said there was nothing on the files to suggest whether the then Defence Minister wanted the Commission to travel or the Commission wanted to undertake the visit.

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