Petitioner questions coal min reply in HC

Nagpur: In Coal India Limited (CIL) recruitment scam, also featuring name of director (personnel) of WCL Sanjay Kumar, petitioner—Muzibur Rehman has countered the reply filed by Ministry of Coal (MoC) and informed Delhi High Court that no action has been taken against 14 errant officials, including Kumar, till date.
It has come to fore that Rehman had filed an objection but the MoC gave extension to Kumar on the post of director (personnel).

On April 8, TOI had reported that CIL did not take any action against 14 officials, including Kumar, even as the MoC in consultation with chief vigilance commission (CVC) had conducted investigation, confirmed irregularities in recruitment of general managers (personnel), fixed responsibilities and directed action on March 16, 2018.
TOI had also reported that MoC in 2020 granted extension to Kumar till retirement despite its investigation, finding him ineligible for even interview and ordering action against him.
In reply to Rehman’s petition, MoC had on February 11, 2020, submitted an affidavit in Delhi Court informing that action was already initiated.
On February 6, Rehman’s counsel had informed HC that there were incorrect statements in the affidavit. HC accepted his plea to file counter affidavit.
A resident of Chhattisgarh, Rehman filed a counter affidavit on April 5. “No action had been initiated against the errant officials despite MoC recommending initiation of major penalty proceedings against the officials involved,” the affidavit stated.
Rehman also countered the MoC claim that his complaint was examined. “MoC in its reply to HC claimed respondent no. 3 (chief vigilance officer of CIL) examined the petitioner’s complaint. In reply to application submitted under RTI, the same respondent has stated that no such complaint was found,” he said.
The petitioner further informed the HC that the MoC directed the chairman of CIL for taking administrative action against 14 officials, including directors. “CIL chairman is not competent to initiate any disciplinary action against officers of the rank of director,” he said.
It has also come to fore now that the MoC remained silent despite the petitioner lodged a complaint opposing extension given to Kumar. Two months after informing the HC about fixing responsibility and directives to CIL for action against 14 officials, including Kumar, MoC had on April 29, 2020, given extension to Kumar till his retirement on July 31.
Rehman on July 21, 2020, had lodged a complaint with MoC and alleged extension to Kumar is akin to encouraging corruption. “It proves all is not well and fair within CIL and its subsidiary Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) as far as personnel and vigilance departments are concerned. Instead of punishment, corrupt officials are being rewarded and granted extension. It is an indication that even the CVC and vigilance department of CIL and its subsidiaries have been maligned,” he alleged.
Earlier, Kumar had refuted all allegations and claimed he did not hide any information or give any fake document during recruitment as general manager (personnel) in CIL.