Govt sets out to clip cronyism in aviation ministry

Officials working with Civil Aviation Ministry and related bodies who have illegally secured jobs for their relatives in the sector may face action with Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju seeking details about such appointments.

The Minister’s Office has shot off letters to heads of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Air India, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy seeking details regarding relatives employed in companies related to aviation sector.

The Minister is learnt to have said that those who have violated rules to get their relatives jobs in such organisations will face the music.

Sources said the letter pointed out that the minister has come to know that relatives of some of the ministry officials and others in offices like DGCA and PSUs are taking up employment with companies connected with the sector without obtaining prior approval.

“You are requested to direct all officers/officials in your organisation to follow the guidelines scrupulously,” the letter said.

Relatives of a large number of employees have been working with various private firms, including airlines. Earlier, there has been a controversy over some DGCA officials’ kin working with private carriers and aviation-related firms. There were allegations that this would lead to conflict of interest.

 It was also claimed that the officers had used their influence to get the jobs and some of the appointments were a sort of illegal gratification.

The letter came against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s missive earlier that no relatives be posted in the personal staff of any ministers.