MHA seeks details,point by point

The MHA had,in June 2008 too,asked the Administration to provide details on the bureaucrats’ foreign tours. According to sources,the Administration had sent a “wishy-washy” reply to the MHA after four months,which the ministry did not find satisfactory.

“There will be no escape this time. The reply has been sought point by point,which will have to be furnished,” said a senior UT official.

Referring to the questionable expenditure incurred by former home secretary Krishna Mohan,tourism secretary J S Bir,tourism director Vivek Atray and finance secretary S K Sandhu during their official visits abroad,the letter from Baldev Raj,Under Secretary to Government of India,MHA,has asked the Administration to provide information on five points. (See box)

In 2008,the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),too,had written to the UT’s Chief Vigilance Officer,asking him to apprise it of all the facts pertaining to the matter. In case it invoked a criminal action,a detailed complaint should be sent to the CBI,the agency had said. The UT,however,never forwarded any complaint to the CBI.

The issue regarding the foreign trips undertaken by officials and the questionable expenditure incurred by them came to light in February 2008 when a local resident procured information under the Right to Information Act.

Take 5
Explanation sought on 5 points
* Prior to November 2005,officers were required to travel by national carriers—Air India,Indian Airlines. The Ministry of Finance,on November 23,2005,allowed journey by private airlines. A few months later,it clarified that whenever the services of a travel agent were required,it should be limited to M/s Balmer Lawrie and Company and M/s Ashoka Travel and Tours. The MHA has asked the UT to explain the reasons for not following these instructions and furnish details of the action taken,if any,for relaxation of the rules.
* In case accommodation was not arranged by the Indian missions abroad,the MHA asked,was reimbursement made after ascertaining the entitlement of the officers from the Ministry of External Affairs. The ministry has asked the UT to provide details on this.
* As per rules,reimbursement of taxi fares only from airport to hotel and vice versa in a foreign country is admissible. But it has been noticed that the officers were reimbursed the taxi fares for all journeys undertaken by them. The Administration has been asked to communicate if there had been any special circumstance,along with relaxation/permission of the competent authority,to reimburse these expenses,if any.
* The MHA has asked for copies of the formal sanction orders/letters issued in respect to these foreign tours.
* The Administration has also asked for the details of excess payments made to officers on account of their family members,which was subsequently refunded.