Concerned over the framing of charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating against former coal secretary H.C. Gupta in a case related to the allotment of coal blocks, the IAS Officers Association will represent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking measures to ensure protection of honest officers who have acted in good faith.
Sanjay Bhoosreddy, Honorary Secretary of the Central IAS Officers Association, told The Hindu that Mr. Gupta is widely perceived among fellow officers as an ‘upright officer’.
His Association and others are looking at options to help the former Coal Secretary. Mr. Bhoosreddy said the understanding of the office bearers of his Association is that Mr. Gupta, who has refused to engage any lawyer to fight his case, is not looking for financial aid but wants people to take up the larger issue of protection of honest civil servants who take and are required to take decisions in good faith.
“As things stand the matter is before the Court and there is very little even the government could do. However, we intend to meet the Prime Minister and make a representation for a mechanism to shield honest officers,” he said.
Apart from Mr. Gupta and a private firm, Vikash Metals and Power Ltd, the court has framed charges against former joint secretary in the Coal Ministry, K.S. Kropha, the then director in the ministry, K.C. Samria and the firm’s MD Vikash Patni.
Mr. Bhoosreddy said an honest civil servant should not be subjected to harassment for actions taken in good faith while in service or after retirement.
He contended that that would make the civil servants working in the system nervous and edgy, which would not be in the interest of the country.
‘Error in judgement’
His case was that an error in judgement should not be treated as criminal misconduct as it would highly demoralise the civil servants.
“Error in judgement has to be looked at differently. If a civil servant is found corrupt then hang the person to the nearest lamp post or jail him for life,” he said.
