K.N. Srivastava, a 1978-batch officer from Karnataka cadre likely to take over as the new Civil Aviation Secretary and Arun Misra, a 1986 batch officer from West Bengal cadre, is expected to take over as the new Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The new incumbents at various levels are being seen as a move by the Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh, to form his own team. The Cabinet Committee on Appointment has given its approval for the changes in the Ministry.
Mr. Srivastava is expected to replace the present Civil Aviation Secretary, S.N.A. Zaidi. He is at present serving as Special Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and had served with the External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna, when he was the chief minister of Karnataka. Mr. Zaidi retires on July 31 and is tipped for a new assignment.
Mr. Misra will take over as the new DGCA from Prashant Sukul who is handling the job now temporarily. Mr. Misra was posted in Montreal as the India's representative to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and is expected to return by end of this month. The West Bengal government has already given its clearance for Mr. Misra’s appointment on central deputation. Mr. Misra has served as a Joint Secretary in the Aviation Ministry since 2007 and was sent to ICAO in August 2009.
Fifty-year-old Misra comes into the DGCA at a time when it has been embroiled in controversy over action against the cash strapped Kingfisher Airlines and allegations by the former DGCA, Bharat Bhushan, who since has been appointed as Financial Advisor in the Steel Ministry, that documents recommending action against Kingfisher were missing from the files after his departure. However, government inquiry into the affair had concluded that there was no such noting on the files.
Mr. Sukul, an Indian Defence Accounts Service officer, at present Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry will go to ICAO as India’s representative.
Similarly, Anil Srivastava, presently Joint DGCA has been appointed as the Joint Secretary in place of Mr. Sukul. A formal notification for these appointments is expected to be issued late this evening or on Saturday. The new appointments are also expected to lead to re-distribution of work in the bureaucratic circles of the Ministry.
