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Kejriwal said he has information of at least 376 other such instances
where IRS officers, including him and his wife have been posted
continuously at New Delhi for more than 10 years. He also questioned
why Chatterjee, a close confident of Sonia Gandhi, is serving in Delhi
for over 25 years
Moneylife Digital Team
India Against Corruption (IAC) activist Arvind Kejriwal, while
accepting that he and his wife Sunita Kejriwal (both belong to the
Indian Revenues Services-IRS) were never transferred out of Delhi,
said that this happened due to shortage of honest and competent
officers with technical skills. While Kejriwal forgot to take note of
Ashok Khemka (the IAS officer from Haryana, who cancelled the mutation
of the over three-acre plot that Robert Vadra's company allegedly sold
to DLF last month, has been transferred for 43 times during his 20
years service), he pointed a finger towards IAS officer Pulok
Chatterjee, who shares good relations with the first family of the
Congress party.
A release, issued by IAC, says, "Posting within Delhi is not unique to
Arvind. Arvind has information of at least 376 other such instances
where IRS officers have been posted continuously at New Delhi for more
than 10 years. Due to the severe shortage of honest and competent
officers with technical skills, Arvind's tenure/postings were
repeatedly extended wherever he was posted, approvals followed in due
course."
"Shree Digvijaya Singh may kindly provide, in his next letter to
Arvind, all postings of Shree Singh's good friend Shree Pulok
Chatterji, IAS during past 25 years, including his deputation to serve
private non-governmental organisations (NGOs) closely associated with
Honourable Chairperson of National Advisory Council (NAC) (Sonia
Gandhi)," the release said.
At present Chatterjee, perceived as being close confidant of Sonia
Gandhi, is working as principal secretary in the Prime Minister's
Office (PMO).
The IAC release also tries to convince that Kejriwal's wife Sunita is
an honest and competent officer and the Serious Frauds Investigation
Office (SFIO) extended her tenure over the years. "Due to her
qualities the SFIO had on its own repeatedly requested her tenure to
be extended. Shree Singh is making such personal allegations to ensure
that honest officers are not posted to sensitive offices inquiring
into the business dealings of Mr.Singh's cronies. In June 2009 Smt
Sunita Kejriwal was also appointed as the Central Public Information
Officer for RTI disclosure of the SFIO," the release said.
Here are the questions raised by Digvijay Singh, Congress spokesperson
and replies given by IAC...
IAC HQ denies that Arvind has violated provisions of All India Service
Rules as alleged by Sh. Digvijaya Singh. Arvind has repeatedly applied
under provisions of
* The All India Services (Leave) Rules, 1955
* The All India Services (Study Leave) Regulations, 1960
* The All India Services (Joint Cadre) Rules, 1972, etc.
When his applications were malafidely not disposed of in time, Arvind
followed the dictates of his conscience in the larger public interest.
Q1: Is it a fact that in your entire service of 20 years in Indian
Revenue Service, you never served outside Delhi, even though the norms
of the service are that all IRS officers serve a posting only for 3
years in a place'?
A: The facts, reasons and reasons for Arvind not being transferred out
of Delhi are very well known to the prime minister and the finance
minister. Everything which Arvind has 'contributed' during his posting
at Delhi was 'shared' with his senior officers under the finance
ministry and certainly up to the level of finance ministers. Posting
within Delhi is not unique to Arvind. Arvind has information of at
least 376 other such instances where IRS officers have been posted
continuously at New Delhi for more than 10 years. Due to the severe
shortage of honest and competent officers with technical skills,
Arvind's tenure/postings were repeatedly extended wherever he was
posted, approvals followed in due course. Just recently the Income Tax
department has again written to the DoPT stressing there is a severe
shortage of qualified officers extending to 21,000 vacancies. Sh.
Digvijaya Singh may kindly provide, in his next letter to Arvind, all
postings of Sh. Singh's good friend Sh. Pulok Chatterji, IAS during
past 25 years, including his deputation to serve private NGOs closely
associated with Hon'ble Chairperson NAC.
Q2: Is it a fact that even your wife, who also is an Indian Revenue
Service officer, has never served outside Delhi?
A: Same as above. Smt. Sunita Kejriwal is an honest and competent
officer deputed in sensitive postings like the Serious Frauds
Investigation Office under the ministry of corporate affairs. Due to
her qualities the SFIO had on its own repeatedly requested her tenure
to be extended. Sh .Singh is making such personal allegations to
ensure that honest officers are not posted to sensitive offices
inquiring into the business dealings of Mr Singh's cronies. In June
2009 Smt. Sunita Kejriwal was also appointed as the Central Public
Information Officer for RTI disclosure of the Serious Frauds
Investigation Office. As a consequence of discharging her designated
functions in an open and transparent manner, Smt. Sunita Kejriwal was
'selected' to go for advanced training in Public Administration at
IIPA Delhi in 2011-12 vide DoPT's letter no. 12103/01/2011-Trg dated
27.May.2011
Q3: Is it a fact that any serving officer who goes on a study leave
for two years with full pay, has to submit a full report of his study
to GOI?
A: In terms of Regulation 3 of the "The All India Services (Study
Leave) Regulations, 1960" such full report is to be submitted in only
in the situations covered u/r 3(1)(ii) and 3(1)(iii) therein. This
does not encompass Arvind's study leaves. Sh. Singh may kindly refer
to DoPT's letter AIS-III dt.9.8.1994 to broaden his knowledge.
Q4: Is it a fact that you didn't submit a full report, but only an
interim report to G0I with a promise to submit a full report later,
which you never did?
A: Please see answer to previous question and the concerned letter of DoPT.
Q5: lsn't it a fact that the Service Rules provide that an officer who
goes on a study leave has to compulsorily serve GOI for 3 years?
A: Sh. Digvijaya Singh is advised to again read the aforesaid Service
Rules and DoPT's clarifications. The said Rule provides that an
applicant for study leave who has previously had long term training
abroad must serve the State for at least 2-3 years before the leave is
sanctioned.
Q6: Is it a fact that you went on an unsanctioned leave, without
permission, after serving for only one and a half year, post the study
leave?
A: All the facts and circumstances concerning this are in the records
of the PMO and the finance ministry, including the letters of
recommendation sent by Hon'ble Chairperson of NAC and Smt Aruna Roy
member NAC etc.
Q7: Is it a fact that you were transferred to Chandigarh once, but you
never joined?
A: All the facts and circumstances concerning this are in the records
of the PMO and the finance ministry, including the letter sent by
Hon'ble Chairperson NAC.
Q8: Is it a fact that you then sought voluntary retirement from
service and even without it being approved, you absented from your
office?
A: All the facts and circumstances concerning this are in the records
of the PMO and the finance ministry, including the letters sent by
Ho''ble Chairperson NAC.
Q9: As a serving officer of IRS did you take permission of Gol to form your NGO?
A: Arvind was not associated with any NGO while actively serving as
an IRS officer. Doing this would be in violation of the service rules
applicable to him.
