NEW DELHI, January 21: The Air-India officers are up in arms against the deputations in their cadre, which they say have been done despite the fact that there is a writ against it in the Supreme Court and the apex court has already issued notice on this.According to Air-India Officers' Association members, the airline is reeling under a financial crisis. While, on one hand, the officers were being asked to voluntarily surrender a part of their basic salary, on the other, the management has been inducting officials from various government departments with huge salaries.They say, that these officers eventually stay on and block the promotion prospects of the Air-India officers who have been working in it for long. "On one hand the company is adopting cost-cutting measures, on the other hand, there is no check on the officers who exceed their terms and are absorbed in the service," says Air-India Officers' Association president S M Rao.According to the officers, Air-India has become a nursery for government officials, many of whom have been absorbed in the organisation are enjoying huge salaries and perks which has prompted others to follow suit."In the past few months, the carrier's vigilance department has inducted number of officers from amongst IPS, contravening the norms set by the government. In fact, there is an order issued by the Bureau of Public enterprises barring the absorption of officers on the deputation to the vigilance departments.They say there are ample cases of government officers staying on even after the term of deputation was over. One of the cases is of Ravi Sinha, Senior Manager, Vigilance, who joined Air-India on deputation for three years but was later absorbed in the airline.Another officer Chaudhury was taken as Assistant Manager, Vigilance, and now has been absorbed in Air-India.Recently N B Sagar, an IPS officer of MP cadre joined Air-India as Senior Manager, Vigilance. According to sources, Sagar will be drawing a much higher salary than he was drawing as a Superintendent of Police and will also be entitled for perks, such as free international travel. According to some Air-India officers this has prompted many to follow suit. "It has become a practice for the company to induct officials and they have been given quick promotions."
