HC seeks papers in JNPT case

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Hearing a petition challenging the appointment of R Vasudevan as Chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) New M...

NEW DELHI, Oct 1: Hearing a petition challenging the appointment of R Vasudevan as Chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) New Mumbai, after upgrading the post to the secretary of the Government of India level under the alleged influence of IAS lobby, the Delhi High Court has summoned all records and other documents relating to the approval secured from the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for his appointment.

Directing the Centre to furnish records and other related documents by the next date of hearing before the court, a division bench comprising Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice K Ramamurthy posted the matter for October 17. Court’s direction came in wake of a petition filed by Dr Jose Paul, chairman, Mormugao Port Trust (a category-III Major Trust), challenging Vasudevan’s appointment.

Seeking court direction to the Centre as well as S Sunder, former secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Surface Transport, T S R Subramanian, Cabinet Secretary and Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) to produce all relevant files and documents pertaining to the appointment to the post of chairman, JNPT, including the files and documents relating to the approval secured from the Appointment Committee of the Central Committee, the petitioner also urged the court to quash September 2, 1996 order of the government.

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Challenging the upgradation of the post of chairman to the level of Secretary, Government of India, two level higher than the level of Joint Secretary at which the post has been operated from the last four years, the petitioner alleged that the notification of the government dated October 14, 1996 was illegal, arbitrary and contrary to the provisions of the Major Port Trust Act, 1963.

Dr Paul alleged that on September 25, 1995, on the repatriation of K Nalinakshan to the state service on completion of his tenure as chairman, JNPT, Paul was asked to hold charge of the office of chairman JNPT.On May 8, 1996, the Selection Committee comprising five IAS officers – S Sunder, secretary, Ministry of Surface Transport, Dr Bikram Sarkar, Chairman of Calcutta Port Trust, R Ramakrishnan, Chairman of Madras Port Trust, P S Mukhopadhyay, Director, Indian Institute of Port Management, Calcutta and A K Rastogi, Joint Secretary (Ports) in the Ministry of Surface Transport – recommended Paul’s appointment to the post of chairman in a category-III Major Port, even though he was eligible for appointment to a category-I Major Port, the petitioner alleged.

However, in July last year, moves were initiated in certain quarters to upgrade the post of Chairman, JNPT to the rank of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India, the petitioner alleged and said the proposal was turned down by the Minister of Personnel as he wanted elaborate consideration of all aspects.

Two months later, Vasudevan, an IAS officer, allegedly having no experience in port management, was purportedly appointed as JNPT chairman after getting clearance by the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).