Mr Bagra Got The Extensions Despite Not Having Clearance From The CVC

DNA reported that in complete contravention of guidelines requiring a mandatory clearance from the Chief Vigilance Commission for appointments or extensions of board-level executives in public sector companies, the ministry of mines has given repeated extensions to Mr BL Bagra chief of the National Aluminium Company who has been on repeated extensions since February 2012 when he was slated to retire.

Mr Bagra got the extensions despite not having clearance from the CVC and against a termination order issued by minister for mines Dinsha Patel making his a rare case in India where a top public sector undertaking chief has been given numerous extensions without vigilance clearance and against the minister’s wishes.

Documents with DNA show that that CVC-recognised whistleblowers have raised issues pertaining to Bagra’s alleged involvement in department promotion committee scams.

A proposal for giving nine months’ extension to Mr Bagra as director (finance) & chairman and managing director in charge was mooted by the mines ministry in January 2012. In response to the proposal, the Appointment Committee of the Cabinet, DoPT, on February 29 intimated it that an extension for only three months from February 28 was approved. It directed the ministry to take a decision on a pending inquiry against Bagra in a lean slurry corruption case within this time.

The ACC’s directive further said that if a CVC enquiry is not completed within three months, no further extension would be granted to Bagra.

The lean slurry case pertains to the awarding of a Rs108-crore contract to a little-known company for ferrying slurry ash from NALCO’s mines a job that requires tremendous technical expertise.

Shockingly, the proposal was sent to the CVC only on May 11, just days before his extended tenure was to end on May 27. Knowing well that the CVC clearance was not expected immediately, bureaucrats in the ministry gave the extension themselves.

Mr Naresh Kumar, joint secretary, ministry of mines, wrote to ACC on May 18, 2012 proposing an extension saying that “Mr Bagra is being allowed to continue as director (finance) & CMD beyond May 27, 2012 till further intimation from ACC.”