CIC has termed it a case of "acute insensitivity" NALCO's failure to take against its officials whose alleged laxity resulted in a Naxal attack on its unit in 2009, leaving 10 CISF personnel dead.
Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad took strong exception to the fact that senior commandant of CISF Shakti Dhar Dobhal had to wait for nearly four years to get answers on the action taken against senior officials of one of the Navratrna Public Sector Undertaking.
He directed that copy of his order be sent to Secretary, Ministry of Mines and CMD, NALCO to apprise them with the "complete insensitivity" and "apathy" shown in the case by the officers concerned.
Azad underlined that while NALCO officials were claiming that they were not able to locate records, there were no records as no action was ever initiated.
"It is shocking to note that neither the Ministry nor NALCO pursued this case against the wrongdoers despite the supreme sacrifice of 10 bravehearts who laid down their lives to safeguard the lives and interests of NALCO," he said.
After perusing the files, the Information Commissioner found that the Ministry had only issued directions to Chairman/MD, NALCO for taking appropriate action, but the same has not been complied with and that NALCO has not taken any action in the matter.
Around 200 Naxals had attacked the NALCO unit in Damanjodi, Odisha, defended by a team of 20 CISF men, in the midnight of April 12, 2009 to loot explosives and other heavy equipment.
During the attack, four Naxals were killed while 10 men of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) sacrificed their lives in the encounter. The Naxalites were neutralised eventually in the morning of April 13, 2009.
Dobhal had filed an RTI in 2012 seeking to know what action was initiated against officials of NALCO whose lapses resulted in the attack and subsequent loss of men under his command while defending the unit but he did not get satisfactory information.
The Information Commissioner pointed out that the Mines
ministry after holding an inquiry into the matter and fixing the responsibility of eight officials for the alleged lapses, wrote a letter on August 31, 2009 to the Chairman, NALCO for taking necessary disciplinary action in the matter.
Azad said thereafter, the Ministry after issuing show cause letter, forgot about the case and never pursued it.
He said NALCO officials kept telling the CIC that files are being traced on the action taken by the Personnel department against the officials but after a thorough check of records they admitted that no action was taken against the officials, hence no records.
"On perusal of the written submission of the appellant, CPIO, Ministry of Mines and CPIO, NALCO, it is clear that no action has, ever been initiated against the named officials of NALCO for the security breach leading to the Naxal attack in which 10 jawans of CISF lost their lives," he noted.
He directed that copy of this order be sent to Secretary, Mines Ministry and CMD, NALCO to apprise them about the "complete insensitivity and "apathy" shown in the case by the concerned officers.
"It is a fact that NALCO failed to honour its martyrs who laid down their lives for the company's cause. It is hoped that in future appropriate directions are given by the Ministry and the NALCO management to look after the security men guarding their units," he said.
He said it is expeted that NALCO management takes interest in upgradation of the security infrastructure which is a critical requirement in such units vulnerable to attacks in the so-called Naxal belt.
Azad lauded the tenacity with which the applicant Shakti Dhar Dobhal has pursued this case in seeking information which would have somehow assuaged his feelings and compensated for the loss of the fallen colleagues under his command.
"The Commission also understands the pain and anguish felt by him on the loss of his comrades. Unfortunately, since no action was taken against the delinquent officials, there was no information to be given and for which the current CPIO can certainly not be held responsible," he said.
