Behind DG’s quick exit, Ajit-govt standoff

New Delhi: The sudden removal of Bharat Bhushan as director general of civil aviation is turning out to be the latest instalment of ally trouble for the UPA. A day after Bhushan's exit, aviation minister Ajit Singh denied that the move was linked to protecting any airline (read Kingfisher), while his five MP-strong Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) blamed the Cabinet secretariat for not consulting the minister on extending the DG's term, especially when the ministry had already submitted a fresh name for the post.
An upset Ajit Singh told TOI: "There is no question of compromising on safety for any airline. There were irregularities in the way this (the DG issue) has happened."
The Rashtriya Lok Dal, led by Ajit Singh, has slammed the cabinet secretariat for what it calls a "goof-up" on the appointment of the director general of civil aviation (DGCA).
It was in December last year that the then civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi sought a six-month term for Bharat Bhushan from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, the same month, Ajit Singh replaced Ravi and later, the aviation ministry sent senior IAS officer Arun Misra's name for the director-general's post.
12/07/12 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jul 2012, Kingfisher Jul 2012