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[aryan]

NEW DELHI: In a bid to check rampant nepotism in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the government has for the first time ever barred DGCA employees whose children work in an airline from taking decisions relating to that carrier. On Tuesday, DGCA chief Bharat Bhushan passed an order for nine such officers — including two joint DGs, two directors and as many assistant directors.

"This decision has been taken and I have sought replies from the officials concerned. There will be zero tolerance on nepotism or any wrong doing," Bhushan said. These officers will now have to give files regarding airlines where their children work to the immediate subordinate for taking decisions.

The order covers joint DGs Charan Dass and A K Sharan and director (air safety) R S Passi. The daughters of Sharan and Passi had allegedly become pilots allegedly with more than a little help from the DGCA after having problems in their training schools and/or in passing exams. The two then went on to get jobs with leading private airlines. Bhushan had earlier removed Passi from airworthiness and not given any new charge. The allegations against Sharan that were first reported by TOI are still being probed.

The list of nine officers and the airlines they are not supposed to decide on are: Joint DGs Charan Dass (SpiceJet) and A K Sharan (IndiGo); director-airworthiness V P Massey (SpiceJet and IndiGo) and director-air safety R S Passi (SpiceJet); assistant directors M M Kaushal (Jet) and Rajiv Gaur (Merlinhawk Aerospace). The three others are R Yadav (Air India and Kingfisher); B N Nehra (AkashGanga Airlines) and R N S Bisht (Religare Aviation).

The allegations of nepotism arose after investigating agencies last year made the shock discovery of fake pilots, or people becoming co-pilots and commanders using unfair means often with insider help from the DGCA. This later led to finding out that some DGCA officials had actually helped their children become co-pilots and then used influence to get them jobs with airlines.