DGCA steps in to stem family ‘bonding’

DGCA chief EK Bharat Bhushan has issued directions barring officials whose children work for aviation companies from handling work relating to those companies.

DGCA chief EK Bharat Bhushan has issued directions barring officials whose children work for aviation companies from handling work relating to those companies.

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DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) is the aviation industry regulator.

Bhushan had, last week, issued show-cause notices to at least nine officials whose children are employed with airlines on why prior permission wasn’t taken from the department before their children took up the lucrative jobs.

Meanwhile, a specialised investigating agency, most probably the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), could

be asked to investigate such DGCA officials to find out if they used their influence to get relatives jobs with aviation companies or help them get pilot licences.

A decision to this effect could be taken once civil aviation secretary returns from a foreign visit next week.

RS Passi, director, air safety directorate, was removed from his post after low-cost carrier SpiceJet wrote to Bhushan that Passi’s daughter, Garima, got a job as a pilot with the airline under “extraordinary circumstances”.

Joint director-general AK Sharan’s daughter Rashmi is alleged to have got her commercial pilot licence flouting DGCA norms. Bhushan has asked the examination directorate for an explanation on the case.