To ensure trouble-free clearances regarding the operation of his flights, despite serious irregularities being done everyday, Naresh Goyal managed to get his employees appointed on key positions in DGCA. This was done in gross violation of the existing rules and with the connivance of DGCA & MoCA.
Irregularity in the appointment of Capt. Ajay Singh (right) as CFOI /Dy. CFOI (DGCA) was done when the position of Chief Flight Operations Inspector and two of his deputies were appointed, who happen to be the employees of Jet Airways.This was done by violating all established norms governing appointments in the Government of India.
These are Joint Secretary level positions and are directly responsible for handling crucial clearances and approvals for all operators including Jet Airways. A reply by DGCA to Kalchakra’s RTI query confirms that nothing has been done to resolve the obvious and visible Conflict of Interest in these appointments. Effectively, a vital directorate of DGCA is practically being run by Jet Airways. These persons should have been asked to either resign their lien on Jet Airways employment or should have been removed from these sensitive positions without further delay.
By keeping his people at crucial posts at DGCA, Naresh Goyal has hit two birds with one stone: safe passage for his operations and creating hindrances in the functioning and growth of other airlines. It is obvious that such generosity cannot be granted to Jet Airways without major Quid Pro Quo. How such unethical practice was adopted by the appointing authorities needs to be thoroughly probed and the guilty should be punished for such corrupt acts.
Surprisingly, the Jet Airways employees working in the DGCA have not resigned from JetAirways and continue to enjoy the benefits of both. This is again a clear case of conflict of Interest. In addition to Capt. Ajay Singh, the others from Jet Airways are Capt. Pankaj Anand and Capt. Sweta Singh, both working as Dy. Chief Flight Inspectors. Besides the Flight Directorate of pilot matter, in-flight department for controlling the cabin crew is also from Jet Airways. An honest probe into this will unearth the nexus between the two. The entire nexus came to Kalchkara’s notice when without finishing his contract with the DGCA Capt.Ajay Singh suddenly jumped ship to take-up a senior management position in Jet Airways. The position offered to him in Jet Airways was in a much higher grade than what he was holding prior to joining DGCA. This makes it clear that he was rewarded for services illegally rendered to Jet Airways while being in employment of DGCA. After the end of
employment with DGCA, Capt. Ajay Singh has resumed his employment with Jet Airways immediately.
According to sources the airline continued to accumulate his salary and perks during the period he was working with the DGCA to be paid on ‘satisfactory’ completion with the DGCA and subsequent rejoining with Jet Airways. Needless to mention that this promise of accumulated money can work both as a carrot and a stick while serving in the GoI to the satisfaction of Naresh Goyal. This is the exact definition of conflict of interest. How could DGCA and MoCA allow this?
