A K Bhattacharya's column "Rules of disengagement" (Raisina Hill, October 21) has raised some very valid issues, at the core of which is whether a post-retirement stint with a private company involves a conflict of interest.
Normally, a bureaucrat or a technocrat demitting office is likely to be offered a job by the private sector for his deep knowledge and expertise gained in a specific area that could help the company avoid costly mistakes. Or, simply as a reward for favours rendered or likely to be rendered by his proximity to those still in power who make key decisions.
He may also be invited to adorn the company board as a status symbol - highly useful when dealing with foreign entities. Lastly, he could be just an honest and a capable person with many useful years in him that an old friend would like to cash in on. The litmus test would be if such a job is the result of him/her having been compromised in the past from making an honest, transparent and fair decision involving the concerned company.
In the instant case, there appears to be enough evidence on record that after reviewing all facts available on the file, including a very strong recommendation from the chief minister of Odisha, a conscious and deliberate decision was taken by the prime minister to allot the coal block to Hindalco. As long as the involved parties did not get any monetary gains, or otherwise from this decision, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has no business to impute motives.
Decisions - good or bad - need to be taken all the time based on the information on record, otherwise, there would be a policy paralysis. Unfortunately, agencies such as the CBI, and the Comptroller and Auditor General seem to be discovering mala fide intent and corruption in almost every act of decision-making by government servants.
R C Acharya, New Delhi
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