The Hindu : National : AI violated norms, says Raut

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Tuesday, May 02, 2006

National

National

AI violated norms, says Raut

Special Correspondent

Alleges irregularities in filling up director-level posts

NEW DELHI: Sanjay Raut, a member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Civil Aviation Ministry, has alleged violation of mandatory norms by Air India management in its bid to fill up senior director-level vacancies.

In a letter to the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad, the MP pointed out that the Air India Chairman-cum-Managing Director had sought approval for filling up certain director-level vacancies way back in December 2004, requesting blanket approval from the Ministry to fill up any vacancies that might arise in the future. Though the Ministry granted approval, the blanket clearance as sought by Air India CMD V. Thulasidas was rejected.

Posts upgraded

"Mr. Thulasidas was directed to follow the extant procedure of prior approval as also directed to desist from any fresh creation of posts as an austerity measure and established policy," Mr. Raut said adding that the Air India management was planning to conduct interviews for 11 director-level posts on May 3, 2006.

"Some of the posts like Director (Corporate Training) is a freshly created post and thus violates the Ministry's provisos. What shocks me further is the fact that the 19 candidates for the generic/non-generic cadre posts have not even been informed as to the nature of assignment and the post for which they would be interviewed," the MP said in his letter of April 28, a copy of which was made available to The Hindu .

Pointing out that the Government was curtailing its expenditure as a measure of austerity, Mr. Raut said the Air India chief was upgrading posts that had been downgraded to the level of a general manager.

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