Top post for CWG security lying vacant for over one year
The top post for the chief of security for the Commonwealth Games here next year is lying vacant for over a year owing to a legal tussle between the Union government and the Central Administrative Tribunal.
Two officials R P Sharma (Karnataka cadre, 1987 batch) and Ajay Chadha (AGMU cadre, 1977 batch) are said to be in the reckoning for the post. The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee had last year sent a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs recommending Sharma's name for the job on the basis of a report made by a Search Committee.
Based on the recommendations of both the Organising Committee and Karnataka government, Sharma also attended different CWG security related meetings here when the proposal was awaiting clearance by the MHA. However, Sharma's name was not cleared after "careful consideration" of the matter by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Aggrieved over the rejection, Sharma filed an appeal with CAT, Bangalore Bench in January this year seeking its directions to the Centre to consider his application and to issue clearance for his deputation.
Meanwhile, MHA and Sports Ministry recommended Ajay Chadha who has expressed his interest for the post of chief of security for the Commonwealth Games. Hearing the matter, the CAT in April 2009 ordered the respondent (MHA) to act as per the instruction given in a Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) circular stating that Sharma is eligible to be considered by the Committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary for screening the cases of deputation.
The court also directed the MHA to place Sharma's case before the committee and to submit their recommendations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (if the recommendations are positive) and to complete all the required procedure before May 30 this year. However, Sharma again approached the CAT in June praying that the government has disobeyed its order and the court issued a show cause notice to Madhukar Gupta, the then Union Home Secretary and asked him to appear before it for not abiding the court's order.
Meanwhile, the Central government filed an appeal in the Bangalore High Court against the CAT's order for erroneously summoning Gupta citing his retirement, which held that only a serving officer can be summoned. The CAT has on October 16 issued notice to Home Secretary G K Pillai and has asked him to file a reply within four weeks. While Ajay Chadha could not be contacted despite repeated attempts, Sharma refused to comment since the matter was sub-judice.
