MAMTA burning midnight oil in formulating the Budget, Lalu through his men still rules Railways

Mamta burning midnight oil in formulating the Budget, Lalu through his men still rules Railways

New Delhi : While Minister for Railways Ms. Mamta Benerjee has taken over as the Cabinet Minister for Railways in the new UPA Government, RJD supremo and former Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav’s writ still runs in the Ministry of Railways corridors through his hand picked loyal officers. These officers are occupying important key positions supposed to be filled up after ACC (Appointment committee of Cabinet)’s approval.

However, since these officers were not fulfilling the norms of seniority and suitability required for these positions, DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee), which interalia included Secretary/DOPT & Chairman Rly. Board, could not recommended the names of Lalu’s loyals during Lalu’s regime.

However, Lalu did not care for the ACC’s approval and issued local orders posting them having no legal or administrative sanctity as these orders were in violation of ACC guidelines.

The blatant disregard to ACC guidelines occurred when the key post of Secretary/Rly. Board fell vacant with superannuation of Shri Mathew John, Secretary /Rly. Board, on 31^st December. Lalu posted Sh.K.B.L.Mittal as Secretary/Rly. Board without seeking ACC’s approval and in sheer disregard to DPC’s recommended panel of senior and eligible officers.

Shri Mittal has been known as Lalu’s very much loyal man while working as DRM/ Danapur/ECR and thereafter was rewarded with coveted assignments of EDME (Traction) in the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) and CME/Northern Rly.

The story does not end here, Shri Mittal was hand picked by Lalu again to award Rs 1000 crore tender for the new wheel factory proposed at Chhapra. In an unprecedented manner, Shri Arun Bhagra, Chief Administrative Officer, Rail Wheel Factory, Chhapra (CAO/RWF/CHP) was shunted out unceremoniously and Shri Mittal was posted as CAO/RWF/CHP for 3 months while keeping CME/NR’s post vacant.

Shri Mittal awarded Rs.1000 crore tender and came back as CME/NR. However, the next reward came sooner than later when he was posted as Secretary/Rly. Board superseding many seniors and against DPC’s recommended panel without ACC’s approval.

Shri Mittal also played a crucial role in moving a proposal for providing a lifetime Platinum pass for the former Minister FOR Rlys, withholding the fact that in the past Court had struck down a similar move initiated in Ramvilas Paswan’s regime in response to a PIL.

It is also a fact that Shri Mittal had a chequered career and has always been under cloud for his professional competence and personality traits. At one point of time he was not even cleared by the Board for the position of DRM on account of his performance below the bench mark. However, the officer leveraged his industry connections and could get his name included in the next DRM panel, sources in the Railway Ministry revealed.

While Rly. Miniater Ms. Mamta Benerjee is burning midnight oil in formulating Budget proposals, Lalu and his hand picked men in railway ministry are ruling the Railways.

It is a fact that the cabinet minister can only post the seniormost and suitable officer temporarily for 3 months only on a post requiring ACC approval. However, not only Shri K. B. L. Mittal was posted as Secretary/Rly. Board in violation of DPC recommendations and ACC guidelines, the officer has been unauthorisedly continuing to hold the charge of Secretary/Rly. Board for the last 6 months.

Shri Mittal is enjoying his half a month long summer vacation in Spain on an official foreign jaunt since 20^th june whereas honest and senior officers recommended for the post of Secretary/Rly. Board look up to Ms. Mamta Benerjee, who is known for delivering justice.

Now it is for Mamta to take note of these happenings, clean up the mess left over by his predecessor and thus bring in transparency and deliver justice.