A serious controversy has erupted over the selection of the chief vigilance officer (CVO) in Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended the name of Alok Kumar for the post even though the candidate is not strictly eligible as the guidelines of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).According to the rules and regulation of DoPT, Alok Kumar would not fall under the ‘eligible’ category for the post since at present he is holding a position of director in the Directorate of Economic Affairs and is in the pay scale of Rs 15,100-18,300. The post of CVO, GAIL is equivalent to the position of a joint secretary and the relevant norm of DoPT states ‘the officers sponsored for joint secretary should be at least in the pay scale of Rs 18,400-Rs 22,400’. Officers to be sponsored for the post of director should be such who have completed 14 years of service and have been granted the non functional selection grade in the cadre in the IAS/IPS/IFS and Group ‘A’ services. For the deputy secretary level posts, only such officers should be sponsored who have completed nine years of service in Group A in the pay scale of Rs 10,000-Rs 15,200.”In keeping with DoPT guidelines, the selected candidate for the post of CVO, GAIL should be at least in the pay scale of Rs 18,400-Rs 22,400.DoPT had earlier drawn a panel for the post and forwarded to CVC. CVC after getting the vigilance clearance, cleared three names for the post of CVO, GAIL. These three names were: Vineet Kumar (1977, pay scale Rs 18,400-Rs 22,400 since September 2002), G S Sarna (1980, pay scale Rs 18,400-Rs22,400 since September 2002 and Alok Kumar (1984, pay scale Rs 15,100-18,300 as on date). Alok Kumar can move to the next scale of Rs 18,400-Rs 22,400 only after one year.Hence, though the petroleum ministry has recommended the name of Alok Kumar according to DoPT norms itself, he is not eligible for the post.
