NEW DELHI, JULY 13: The Department of Atomic Energy (DEA) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) have decided to dismiss a senior official of the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) for failing to report that his wife was running a business from their home which had secured contracts from NPC.The order by the CVC upholding the DEA's decision to dismiss the Class One gazetted official, Ashok Kumar, was taken on July 7. When contacted, Vigilance Commissioner V.S. Mathur said: ``Yes, we have recommended dismissal of the official. We felt that since the case involved a sensitive nuclear department we had to to take action.''Chief Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal in the dismissal order said: ``I have worked in the Department of Atomic Energy and I find that in the matter of corruption, science departments of the government of India have a better and cleaner image. In order to ensure this continues to be the case, we have to take deterrent action and ensure punishment.''The article of charges prepared against Kumar say that his primary offence was that he did not ``report to his prescribed authority that his wife was a 50-per cent partner in M/MEC Engineering Services which had official dealings with the NPC.''. He is alleged to have helped and facilitated her business by exploiting his official position.Kumar's wife set up the company in April 1992 and got a contract from the NPC in April 1994. Interestingly, the company was being run from Kumar's residence. After the DEA issued a chargesheet, the company was dissolved. Kumar was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.
