New Delhi, May 22: The Meghalaya IAS Officers' Association has expressed "shock, disbelief and anguish" over the conviction of chief secretary K.S. Kropha in the coal scam.
Kropha, along with former coal secretary H.C. Gupta and former director in the coal ministry K.C. Samaria, was sentenced today by a CBI court to two years' imprisonment in a coal block allocation case. The three IAS officers have been found guilty of corruption, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
The Meghalaya IAS Officers' Association, which held an emergent meeting, resolved to support Kropha and to take up the matter with the Central IAS Officers' Association.
"The meeting expressed its shock, disbelief and anguish over the judgment passed by the CBI court convicting Shri K.S. Kropha, IAS, chief secretary of Meghalaya, among others, while discharging his duties as joint secretary to the government of India in the ministry of coal," the association said in a statement issued through the Meghalaya directorate of information and public relations.
Several retired bureaucrats said honest mistakes by civil servants need to be protected and warned of a policy paralysis otherwise.
R. Sri Kumar, former vigilance commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission, said: "I cannot comment on this (sentencing to Gupta) matter as it is a court case. I need to see evidence on record before commenting on this. But bona fide mistakes surely need to be protected. At the same time decisions taken in good faith and in public interest by the officers also need to be protected."
Sri Kumar, a retired IPS officer, also recalled working with Gupta in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district. "I worked with him when he was the district magistrate and I was additional superintendent of police in Azamgarh. He is very honest and no-nonsense officer," he said.
Former finance and power secretary E.A.S. Sarma called for rules to protect officers for their honest decisions. "While I am not familiar with the facts of the case against Gupta, I feel there should be protection for civil servants taking decisions in good faith. Law can take its course and officers penalised only when mala fides are clearly established. Otherwise, civil servants will hesitate to take decisions," he said.
The Meghalaya association statement, sent by its president and secretary, said: "The officers unanimously expressed their support to Shri K.S. Kropha and his family during this difficult phase. The officer who has served 35 years of selfless service in various capacities is known for his unimpeachable integrity and has had an unblemished service record. The officers of the association expressed their firm support to Shri Kropha and also decided that the matter shall be taken up with the Central IAS Officers Association, New Delhi."
The officers also expressed hope that justice would prevail and that Kropha would be "honourably exonerated from all charges".
The CBI court had ruled that there were irregularities in awarding the Thesgora-B Rudrapur coal block in Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd in 2008. The three officers were serving in the coal ministry at the time.
All convicts were granted bail to enable them to appeal in the high court.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY
ANDREW W. LYNGDOH,
RINING LYNGDOH IN SHILLONG & PTI
