Hindustan Petroleum whistleblowers not reinstated even a year after HC order
June 16, 2011 06:24 PM |
Moneylife Digital Team
No one held guilty in the faulty petroleum adulterant marker case
Moneylife recently reported about the plight of a whistleblower, who took on Indian Oil Corporation, but has not been compensated fully despite a judicial victory. He is not alone, though. Whistleblowers at Hindustan Petroleum, after almost a year, are still similarly unemployed and their plight ignored.
In August 2010, the Bombay High Court upheld the complaint made against the authenticity of an adulterant marker, which the government had purchased at extraordinarily high rates from a UK firm. HPCL officials Ravi Srivastava and Ashok Singh lost their jobs in 2008, when they blew the lid on the issue. Though the court order vindicated their stand, they have neither been compensated financially, nor reinstated in their jobs.
A message from Moneylife to HPCL on this issue has not been answered.
"We are still without jobs," said Mr Srivastava, "just doing some work with some consultants here and there. No compensation, no prestige." To add insult to injury, in November 2010 Mr Srivastava's RTI query to the oil ministry about the status of the Authentix marker revealed that 'the inquiry is still in progress'.
"It has been proved that this adulterant marker could be easily tampered. The CBI has also registered a case against MS Srinivasan, the then secretary in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, Authentix and their Indian agent SGS, and several officials from oil companies like Bharat Petroleum, HPCL and Indian Oil. What is left to be proved," Mr Srivastava asked.
A marker is a coloured chemical, which if added to substances like kerosene or naptha, can be visually detected if these are mixed with petroleum for adulteration. The government, in order to stop massive adulteration by addition of kerosene allocated to PDS, asked all oil companies to add a supposedly infallible marker from Authentix in kerosene and other cheap fuels in 2006.
Mr Srivastava and his colleague were serving as treasurer and president of the Oil Sector Officers' Association (OSOA), when in May 2008 they received complaints from various corners that there were 'serious irregularities in procurement, specification and implementation' of the policy on this particular marker.
The officers investigated the matter, and discovered that the marker could be got rid of easily with clay and other ordinary lab chemicals. A website named Indianpetro.com conducted a survey at several petrol pumps, depots and oil-cargo ferries, and concluded that the marker had fared pretty badly. The government had also struck a benevolent deal with Authentix, via their Indian agents SGS, and the marker was purchased at Rs13,000 per litre without any chemical specifications. No wonder, Authentix listed the deal as the "largest fuel adulterant marking contract in history" on their website.
When they pointed out the flaws with the marker, Mr Singh was fired first, and Mr Srivastava was stripped of all facilities, accommodation and perquisites. Later, when the officers protested against the arbitrary appointment of a non-employee to a high position, Mr Srivastava was accused of 'instigating other officers' and fired from his job.
In 2008, the duo approached the chief vigilance commissioner, who refused to grant them protection as whistleblowers, treating them as ordinary complainants. A year later, CNN-IBN reported their story and exposed Authentix's dubious reputation abroad. In April 2010, Simpreet Singh, activist, filed a writ petition against the oil ministry's extravagant favour granted to Authentix. During the hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also released a report that showed there were many lapses in the process, and that the government had awarded the contract to Authentix without inviting a global tender.
The Bombay High Court upheld the whistleblowers' complaints. However, they received no compensation. "Neither Murli Deora who was the minister then, nor other government officials, nor the companies were punished. And, the inquiry on Authentix marker is still 'in progress'. Why would anyone risk their necks to point out discrepancies then," he said.
Fuel adulteration has reached worrying proportions, and the oil mafia has got more entrenched. In January, Yashwant Sonawane, additional collector, was burnt alive when he tried to investigate an instance of fuel theft. If the government chooses to ignore the calls from within the industry and does not protect the whistleblowers, the perils will intensify.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Reply
ravi srivastava to ashoksingh2227, bcc: shishir.dubey, bcc: Babubhai, bcc: Babubhai, bcc: pooja1802, bcc: at.shukti, bcc: mediahindi, bcc: aaj_ki_aawaz, bcc: aakp, bcc: ajay.joglekar, bcc: ajmerwarrior, bcc: akshaya.mukul, bcc: aloktomar, bcc: aloktomar, bcc: amar, bcc: anilarya0333, bcc: aniruddha.bahal, bcc: ashutosh, bcc: ashutosh_ism66, bcc: bsmanjunath061., bcc: cdebjit, bcc: chatterjeeDev, bcc: dhananjay.maha., bcc: digvijay, bcc: editor, bcc: feedback
show details Jun 25 (4 days ago)
Petro Intelligence » For Whom The Bell Tolls
A sudden burst of aggressive investigation into the deep-seated cartels and cabals has led to mind-boggling estimates of the extent of corruption that has eaten into the vitals of governing institutions and sparked a public outcry against the perpetrators of large-scale shenanigans.
The empire is finally striking back.
People of great influence – who have fattened their coffers for years on the basis of power, privilege, and pelf – have been hurled into a grimy prison and forced to confront the fate of common felons. Their fall from grace has been as sudden as it has been ignominious.
The investigators first exposed the scandalous wheeling-dealing in sporting events like cricket and the commonwealth games. The telecom spectrum scam felled several high-rollers. And now there’s the first sign of trouble for Reliance Industries – the country’s largest private conglomerate – that could trigger a quake on a dimension that the country has never seen before.
The revelations in a leaked draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the capital expenditure in India’s first and only commercially exploited deep-water gas field has raised the spectre of a “huge scam”.
The CAG hasn’t quantified it as yet but the indications seem to suggest that the derring-do in the KG-D6 gas block – which was touted as the world’s biggest gas discovery in 2002 – could wreck the reputation of the people who have shaped the destinies of many top politicians and bureaucrats and configured the contours of India’s policies and statecraft.
The CAG’s damning draft on the KG-D6 gas block can undergo changes and the size of the alleged loot may get magnified or diminished in the final report. But judging by the contents of one chapter (read column: Regulation) of the draft — which was missing from the copies leaked out to the press — the report, which is expected to be finalised by August, should trigger a major scam.
For RIL, the timing of the draft is most unkind. It is one of the rarest moments in independent India’s history where the system has started to assert itself against the people who have been regarded as its principal wreckers.
Neither the judiciary nor the CBI can apply different yardsticks when dealing with the new scam. The UPA government will be exposed if it tries to bail out the guilty. So will other political parties that were eloquent about the 2G spectrum scam. The only saving grace for RIL so far is that the CAG hasn’t clearly spelt out the extent of the loss and merely said it was “huge”.
Manmohan Singh already acted with a little foresight. He shifted Murli Deora and his junior Jitin Prasada from the petroleum ministry in February. Its secretary was bundled out and the heads of a couple of officials are on the chopping block. Deora, who is now managing another ministry in the UPA government, is expected to be dropped in the imminent cabinet reshuffle. The CBI, which has already registered a preliminary investigation into KG-D6 affairs, has begun to reactivate the machinery.
V.K. Sibal, the former boss of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), may have nightmarish days ahead. Sibal did not have independent powers. He could only forward his recommendations to his bosses who were the secretary of the Ministry and the minister himself.
M.S. Srinivasan was the secretary when the capital expenditure on the KG-D6 gas field was cleared – which is now at the centre of scrutiny. P.M.S. Prasad, chief of RIL’s OIL division who was subsequently elevated as executive director, is acknowledged to be the architect of the KG-D6 exploration. The architect should know the cost of a project better than anybody else.
The shape of the KG-D6 scam is very different from the spectrum scandal because the investigations are unlikely to throw up proof of direct bribe payments to any individual. The nature of the business and the way that it operates is a lot different.
ravi srivastava to ashoksingh2227, bcc: shishir.dubey, bcc: Babubhai, bcc: Babubhai, bcc: pooja1802, bcc: at.shukti, bcc: mediahindi, bcc: aaj_ki_aawaz, bcc: aakp, bcc: ajay.joglekar, bcc: ajmerwarrior, bcc: akshaya.mukul, bcc: aloktomar, bcc: aloktomar, bcc: amar, bcc: anilarya0333, bcc: aniruddha.bahal, bcc: ashutosh, bcc: ashutosh_ism66, bcc: bsmanjunath061., bcc: cdebjit, bcc: chatterjeeDev, bcc: dhananjay.maha., bcc: digvijay, bcc: editor, bcc: feedback
show details Jun 25 (4 days ago)
Petro Intelligence » For Whom The Bell Tolls
A sudden burst of aggressive investigation into the deep-seated cartels and cabals has led to mind-boggling estimates of the extent of corruption that has eaten into the vitals of governing institutions and sparked a public outcry against the perpetrators of large-scale shenanigans.
The empire is finally striking back.
People of great influence – who have fattened their coffers for years on the basis of power, privilege, and pelf – have been hurled into a grimy prison and forced to confront the fate of common felons. Their fall from grace has been as sudden as it has been ignominious.
The investigators first exposed the scandalous wheeling-dealing in sporting events like cricket and the commonwealth games. The telecom spectrum scam felled several high-rollers. And now there’s the first sign of trouble for Reliance Industries – the country’s largest private conglomerate – that could trigger a quake on a dimension that the country has never seen before.
The revelations in a leaked draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the capital expenditure in India’s first and only commercially exploited deep-water gas field has raised the spectre of a “huge scam”.
The CAG hasn’t quantified it as yet but the indications seem to suggest that the derring-do in the KG-D6 gas block – which was touted as the world’s biggest gas discovery in 2002 – could wreck the reputation of the people who have shaped the destinies of many top politicians and bureaucrats and configured the contours of India’s policies and statecraft.
The CAG’s damning draft on the KG-D6 gas block can undergo changes and the size of the alleged loot may get magnified or diminished in the final report. But judging by the contents of one chapter (read column: Regulation) of the draft — which was missing from the copies leaked out to the press — the report, which is expected to be finalised by August, should trigger a major scam.
For RIL, the timing of the draft is most unkind. It is one of the rarest moments in independent India’s history where the system has started to assert itself against the people who have been regarded as its principal wreckers.
Neither the judiciary nor the CBI can apply different yardsticks when dealing with the new scam. The UPA government will be exposed if it tries to bail out the guilty. So will other political parties that were eloquent about the 2G spectrum scam. The only saving grace for RIL so far is that the CAG hasn’t clearly spelt out the extent of the loss and merely said it was “huge”.
Manmohan Singh already acted with a little foresight. He shifted Murli Deora and his junior Jitin Prasada from the petroleum ministry in February. Its secretary was bundled out and the heads of a couple of officials are on the chopping block. Deora, who is now managing another ministry in the UPA government, is expected to be dropped in the imminent cabinet reshuffle. The CBI, which has already registered a preliminary investigation into KG-D6 affairs, has begun to reactivate the machinery.
V.K. Sibal, the former boss of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), may have nightmarish days ahead. Sibal did not have independent powers. He could only forward his recommendations to his bosses who were the secretary of the Ministry and the minister himself.
M.S. Srinivasan was the secretary when the capital expenditure on the KG-D6 gas field was cleared – which is now at the centre of scrutiny. P.M.S. Prasad, chief of RIL’s OIL division who was subsequently elevated as executive director, is acknowledged to be the architect of the KG-D6 exploration. The architect should know the cost of a project better than anybody else.
The shape of the KG-D6 scam is very different from the spectrum scandal because the investigations are unlikely to throw up proof of direct bribe payments to any individual. The nature of the business and the way that it operates is a lot different.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tale of Whistleblowers in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) Tuesday, 26 April 2011 15:29 ravi srivastava 0 Comments 7 Share “ This case
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2011
Tale of Whistleblowers in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) Tuesday, 26 April 2011 15:29 ravi srivastava 0 Comments 7 Share “ This case
Tale of Whistleblowers in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL)
Tuesday, 26 April 2011 15:29 ravi srivastava
0 Comments
7
Share
“ This case is a glaring example that to what extent whistle blowers can be tortured , humiliated
for raising voice against rampant corruption and taught a lesson by giving an exemplary punishment
by mighty corporation and Ministry , I dont know when justice will be delivered and will it account
for miseries , hardships ,suffered in last 27 months by us and our families .” RAVI SRIVASTAV
When Some One said That India needs Heavy Changes then people ask question why?? Why when we are
growing faster and GDP growth rate is in great shape?? But only Economy will not make any Country strong,
the people make the country but when people get the suffering only because they care about Nation then
it is most shameful thing for country, country which is largest democracy, long written constitutions, laws and
freedom of speech. After having democracy, constitution, law & order & freedom and freedom of speech if
people oppressed because they take step for Nation then the need of heavy changes is not any question
but the answer.
It is story of two persons Mr. Ravi Srivastava and Mr. Ashok Singh who use their voice to oppose the wrong
happening in oil Industry HPCL for welfare of nation & people but in result they get the oppression & suffering
not by any other people but itself by our Governments .After brutal burning of Yashwant Sonawane in Malegao
by oil mafia now Government industry itself like HPCL harassed people for speaking truth. Is that we call the
right way of progress?????
Article by Himself Mr. Ravi Srivastava
( Staff Association /Oil Sector Officer association's Treasurer in HPCL)
About Ravi Srivastava
I R.P.SRIVASTAVA, 56 year old ,male Graduated in Science and Chemical Technology in the year 1975, after an stint of 1 year at Eicher Tractors and 6 years in Kansai Nerolac(erstwhile Goodlass Nerolac), I joined HPCL in 1982 as an Operations Officer in Grade ‘A’.
BACKGROUND OF ISSUE
Myself and my colleague Ashok singh were employed with HPCL and we were Oil sector officers association's Treasurer and President respectively during May 2008 we were advised by our members that one adulteration marker launched by Ministry of Petroleum and oil companies has serious irregularities in procurement , specification and implementation. An advocate collected all information through RTI and we filed a complaint before Regional director CBI Mumbai .In retaliation HPCL instantly within 4 days suspended Ashok framing in some misappropriation charges against him and unleashed a reign of terror against me by issuing a chargesheet and show cause, they removed my assistance , stopped perquisites, deducted wages ,made me sit under stairs case and finally evicted me from company accommodation
We approached CVC 3 times in june, july& August 2008 instead giving us any protection they gave an order in Nov. 08 that " we can not be given any job related protection and shall be treated as plain complainant', a PIL basis our CBI complaint was filed in june 08 and Hon. Mumbai high court in their judgment in oct 2008 ordered CBI enquiry and by Vigilance of Ministryof Petroleum . CBI finally filed a PE in April 2009 against oil company officials, marker suppliers Authentix thier Indian agents SGS and then Secretary Petroleum and our complaint was vindicated.CNN-IBN in their Breaking news on 21st sept 2009 exposed the whole scam and confirmed that the marker supplier Authentix/SGS were a black listed company abroad and marker purchased @ Rs. 13000/per ltr without ascertaining theproduct specification etc.This marker was also carcinogenic( may cause cancer in human being).
HPCL suspended me on the charge of instigating officers , from their services in Jan 09 ,while oil sector officers went on strike (HPCL was theonly company which was not on strike), and finally dismissed us in March 2009 by framing both of us in a case prior to our CBI complaint while we had protested against an irregular appointment of CEO by then chairman in a JVof HPCL namely HINCOL., our statuary appeal was rejected in oct 2009 by HPCL and confirmed removal from service, my appeals to President of India have been handed over to HPCL only against whom I am fighting this battle.I have now filed my case before Hon'ble mumbai High court and awaiting justice. CBI complaint has been established by CBI and they have confirmed it to Ministry in turn Ministry has issued advisory to Oil PSU chairmen.
“ This case is a glaring example that to what extent whistle blowers can be tortured , humiliated for raising voice against rampant corruption and taught a lesson by giving an exemplary punishment by mighty corporation and Ministry , I dont know when justice will be delivered and will it account for miseries , hardships ,suffered in last 27 months by us and our families .”
">
TV9 News of 7.1.2011
Article ईमानदारी की सजा भुगत रहे हैं दो अधिकारी (Click to Open)on Hindi Media..Article focusing on issue .
I try every legal possible thing but in our country they all are just useless. I send letters to President , Petroleum Minister but nothing happened and reason is our weak system .
My Letter to President
http://www.scribd.com/full/53929573?access_key=key-14jt7fm542o5dduqvs8x
My Letter to Minister of Petroleum
http://www.scribd.com/full/53930064?access_key=key-kdut0z2jhrx09w9xg8s
At last the CVC Report on Charge sheet
http://www.scribd.com/full/53929579?access_key=key-9l81mw20bmev5euyhp9
I request to People that Please Read My Letter to President and understand the seriousness of issue.
INTRODUCTION
I R.P.SRIVASTAVA, 56 year old ,male Graduated in Science and Chemical Technology in the year 1975, after an stint of 1 year at Eicher Tractors and 6 years in Kansai Nerolac(erstwhile Goodlass Nerolac), I joined HPCL in 1982 as an Operations Officer in Grade ‘A’.
BACKGROUND
I joined HP Management Staff Association /Oil Sector Officers Association in 1995 as Treasurer and
successfully achieved several milestones under the leadership of my President Shri Ashok Singh viz. large no.of Promotions for the officers in 1995 , Salary Revision of 2000, Revision in C&B issues and host of officer’s welfare schemes etc. Privatization of HPCL/BPCL was opposed by us and finally halted permanently by Hon’ble Supreme Court orders in Sept 2003,later an attempt by then Govt. to merge HPCL with ONGC was successfully stopped by our convincing presentations
THECASE
MOP&NG , and HPCL Management were scared of our prominence and looking for an opportune situation to fix us they came across one such event on 6.5.08 , while HPCL officers questioned Management for illegally ,arbitrarily appointing one of their favorite Sanjay Grover (who had resigned from HPCL to join MRPL), 3 grades higher in HPCL as a CEO of HPCL JV HINCOL ,Association appealed the Management to review this appointment and give fair opportunity to all eligible officers. After an amicable settlement , Management backed out and Charge Sheeted me & Ashok Singh on 7.5.08. Enquiry in this case commenced on 16.7.08 and despite our strong protests on illegalities, continued till 7.11.08 I had moved Hon’ble Mumbai High court against illegalities in the conduct of Enquiry and filed a petition no. 2254 in Sept 2008 , Hon’ble Mumbai High court in their order dt 1.10.08 gave
me the liberty to approach again in case of an adverse order from HPCL Management . The DA Dir(M) did not even allow us mandatory 15 days period for replying to the Enquiry officer's report and
summoning Dir. HR & GM- HR (mktg.) as witnesses. HPCL summarily dismissed both of us on 12.3.09, my
appeal dt 27.3.09 was rejected on 15.7.09 and I was evicted from the company accommodation .Ashok Singh’s appeal was rejected on 21.09.09 and we both were removed from the company by order dt. 1.10.09.
MARKER SYSTEM
One marker system was introduced in all oil companies (IOC,BPC,HPC) from 1.10.06, and on our instructions an advocate was collecting all information through RTI about irregularities and corruption in the purchase and implementation of Marker system since Nov. 2007 ,all information’s were received on 6.5.08. This marker system was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister Shri Murli Deora on 1.10.2006 at IOC’s Bijwasan Terminal in presence of Sh. Sajjan Kumar, Shri M.S.Srinivasan and Sh. Ashok Badhwar President of Dealers Association for checking adultration of Petrol& Diesel . In fact MOP&NG even amended the Marketing Discipline Guidelines to facilitate a private supplier to inspect Retail Outlets(Petrol Pumps)and officers had complained to us that Private company officers were extorting Money from ignorant Dealers.
Me and Ashok Singh , filed a CBI complaint on 12.5.08, , against then Secy. Petroleum &Nat. gas Sh. M.S
Srinivasan and Private suppliers M/s Authentix/SGS , furious HPCL Management in retaliation promptly
suspended Ashok Singh on 16.5.08 alleging irregularities at one Sajgaon outlet , to which he was not even remotely connected .HPCL Management even recorded in their Board notes on 29th june 2008 and 30th july 2008
that we will be fixed & penalized . We both appealed to CVC for whistle blower protection under Govt. of India’s resolution and even met Vigilance Commissioner personally to apprise him of the case on 6.6.08, 21/22.7.08 and 7.8.08 , instead getting us protected,
our miseries compounded and HPCL Management unleashed chain of atrocities on me and took a vowto finish us once and for all. Management served me 2nd charge sheet on 30.7.08 for displaying some marker related report on Association notice board on 6.6.08(that day I was in CVC's office at Delhi which has been confirmed by CVC in response to a RTI) , in fact this so called confidential Marker report was already published by a website Indianpetro.com on
21.5.08 it self .Enquiry in this case commenced on 21.11.08 and abruptly discontinued on 18.2.09BYEnquiry Officer. Since May 2008 , Management was looking for an opportunity to remove me from the company and in this process, they evicted me from my office on 15.10.08, and made to sit under stairs case , took away assistance and curtailed my benefits and even deducted the Salary . Management swiftly used OSOA strike of 7-9th Jan 2009 to fix me and implicated once again into a false charge of instigating the officers and suspended on 9.1.09. It is noteworthy that I myself had not even participated in that strike and was on duty.
Basis a news item on Marker system , which appeared in TOI of 4.6.08, a PIL No. 60 was filed in Mumbai High Court on 16.6.08 ,by a social activist Shri Simpreet Singh, Hon’ble Mumbai High Court ordered CBI enquiry in this PIL case on 23.10.08 , and the marker was abruptly discontinued by all oil companies on 31.12.08,As per news item in Indian Express dated 5.10.08 and TOI dated 16.6.09 the marker was not tamper proof and launder able by ordinary clay. It was also established by HPCL appointed R&D advisor that it was carcinogenic in nature( could cause cancer in human being), still despite court orders oil companies placed order for 3 months from ( 1.10.08-31.12.08) and marker doping was continued.CBI has already filed PE in this case on 29.4.09 against the Secy. Petroleum ,Private supplier and OMC (oil marketing company)officers.CNN-IBN in their news telecast on 21.9.09, have confirmed that supplier Authentix was already a black listed company abroad named as ( BIOCODE) and CVC has ordered CBI enquiry against erring senior Ministry officials .
Our case is a glaring example of abuse of Authority by those in power , whether beaurocrats, politician and victimization of Honest , upright and Bold officers who dared to expose corruption in High places . There is a determined effort by all powerful C&MD HPCL and its directors to circumvent laid down procedures , harass, humiliate and even sacked officers like us to demonstrate other colleagues in the Oil Industry, that they will meet the same fate , if they even dared to question Management decisions. Whatever we had complained to CBI has been vindicated.The entire action against us is in retaliation and revenge by HPCL Management for filing CBI complaint.
Respectable Madam , our life has been ruined by these Greedy , corrupt officials and leaders , you are our last hope before we exercise the options , available under the Law. As a stake holder and President of this Nation and 51% shareholder of HPCL , this company has lost more than Rs. 10000 cr. of Market capitalization because of corruption, Mismanagement and frauds of present HPCL Management.
Prayer
1. We are reinstated in HPCL with our full back wages and career progression .
2. The guilty officers are brought to book , through an impartial , fair enquiry by CBI ,as ordered byHon’ble High Court and CVC.
In Media there is coverage but the National main stream media still not interested in this matter because of the intensity of the matter and reach of government in this issues .But few reports came in media but still very much insufficient .
Video link of TV9 News on 18.9.2010
">
TV9 PANEL DISCUSSION 27.1.2011 @ 7.00 PM AT THEIR STUDIO
">
IBN LOKMAT PANEL DISCUSSION ON 28.1.2011 9.50 PM
http://ibnlokmat.tv/showvideo.php?id=147582 ,http://ibnlokmat.tv/showvideo.php?id=147582
Video link of CNN IBN NEWS ON 28.01.2011 BY Sumon k chakraborti& Shoab Ahmed
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-mulls-use-of-controversial-fuel-marker/141790-3.html
CNN IBN PANEL DISCUSSION ON CHANNEL WITH NARENDRA TANEJA, RPN SINGH, ANU MISHRA ON 27.1.2011 RAJ DEEP SIRDESAI
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/141694/can-the-government-reign-in-the-oil-mafia.html
“ This case is a glaring example that to what extent whistle blowers can be tortured , humiliated for raising voice against rampant corruption and taught a lesson by giving an exemplary punishment by mighty corporation and Ministry , I dont know when justice will be delivered and will it account for miseries , hardships ,suffered in last 27 months by us and our families .”
All I just want to put a point in front of people that how our Higher Government worked and how the wrong things are happening in government sector like in Oil Industry and when people like me and Ashok Singh raised a voice then the treatment which we get from authorities is in front of you .
I demand support because there are many people in different – different industry who wants to speak up and if I succeeded and get support of people then it encourages other people to raise voice against the high profile industries and governments.
R. P. Srivastava
ravi4354@gmail.com
Blog http://raviprakash4354.blogspot.com
India Against corruption Activist and Volunteer from Navi Mumbai
“People are ignoring the truth and turn blind on things but without solving these hard issues , our country will never able to see a better future. So we have to support right people & speak openly and have to demand heavy changes because our country needs it.” Easytoact
Tale of Whistleblowers in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) Tuesday, 26 April 2011 15:29 ravi srivastava 0 Comments 7 Share “ This case
Tale of Whistleblowers in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL)
Tuesday, 26 April 2011 15:29 ravi srivastava
0 Comments
7
Share
“ This case is a glaring example that to what extent whistle blowers can be tortured , humiliated
for raising voice against rampant corruption and taught a lesson by giving an exemplary punishment
by mighty corporation and Ministry , I dont know when justice will be delivered and will it account
for miseries , hardships ,suffered in last 27 months by us and our families .” RAVI SRIVASTAV
When Some One said That India needs Heavy Changes then people ask question why?? Why when we are
growing faster and GDP growth rate is in great shape?? But only Economy will not make any Country strong,
the people make the country but when people get the suffering only because they care about Nation then
it is most shameful thing for country, country which is largest democracy, long written constitutions, laws and
freedom of speech. After having democracy, constitution, law & order & freedom and freedom of speech if
people oppressed because they take step for Nation then the need of heavy changes is not any question
but the answer.
It is story of two persons Mr. Ravi Srivastava and Mr. Ashok Singh who use their voice to oppose the wrong
happening in oil Industry HPCL for welfare of nation & people but in result they get the oppression & suffering
not by any other people but itself by our Governments .After brutal burning of Yashwant Sonawane in Malegao
by oil mafia now Government industry itself like HPCL harassed people for speaking truth. Is that we call the
right way of progress?????
Article by Himself Mr. Ravi Srivastava
( Staff Association /Oil Sector Officer association's Treasurer in HPCL)
About Ravi Srivastava
I R.P.SRIVASTAVA, 56 year old ,male Graduated in Science and Chemical Technology in the year 1975, after an stint of 1 year at Eicher Tractors and 6 years in Kansai Nerolac(erstwhile Goodlass Nerolac), I joined HPCL in 1982 as an Operations Officer in Grade ‘A’.
BACKGROUND OF ISSUE
Myself and my colleague Ashok singh were employed with HPCL and we were Oil sector officers association's Treasurer and President respectively during May 2008 we were advised by our members that one adulteration marker launched by Ministry of Petroleum and oil companies has serious irregularities in procurement , specification and implementation. An advocate collected all information through RTI and we filed a complaint before Regional director CBI Mumbai .In retaliation HPCL instantly within 4 days suspended Ashok framing in some misappropriation charges against him and unleashed a reign of terror against me by issuing a chargesheet and show cause, they removed my assistance , stopped perquisites, deducted wages ,made me sit under stairs case and finally evicted me from company accommodation
We approached CVC 3 times in june, july& August 2008 instead giving us any protection they gave an order in Nov. 08 that " we can not be given any job related protection and shall be treated as plain complainant', a PIL basis our CBI complaint was filed in june 08 and Hon. Mumbai high court in their judgment in oct 2008 ordered CBI enquiry and by Vigilance of Ministryof Petroleum . CBI finally filed a PE in April 2009 against oil company officials, marker suppliers Authentix thier Indian agents SGS and then Secretary Petroleum and our complaint was vindicated.CNN-IBN in their Breaking news on 21st sept 2009 exposed the whole scam and confirmed that the marker supplier Authentix/SGS were a black listed company abroad and marker purchased @ Rs. 13000/per ltr without ascertaining theproduct specification etc.This marker was also carcinogenic( may cause cancer in human being).
HPCL suspended me on the charge of instigating officers , from their services in Jan 09 ,while oil sector officers went on strike (HPCL was theonly company which was not on strike), and finally dismissed us in March 2009 by framing both of us in a case prior to our CBI complaint while we had protested against an irregular appointment of CEO by then chairman in a JVof HPCL namely HINCOL., our statuary appeal was rejected in oct 2009 by HPCL and confirmed removal from service, my appeals to President of India have been handed over to HPCL only against whom I am fighting this battle.I have now filed my case before Hon'ble mumbai High court and awaiting justice. CBI complaint has been established by CBI and they have confirmed it to Ministry in turn Ministry has issued advisory to Oil PSU chairmen.
“ This case is a glaring example that to what extent whistle blowers can be tortured , humiliated for raising voice against rampant corruption and taught a lesson by giving an exemplary punishment by mighty corporation and Ministry , I dont know when justice will be delivered and will it account for miseries , hardships ,suffered in last 27 months by us and our families .”
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TV9 News of 7.1.2011
Article ईमानदारी की सजा भुगत रहे हैं दो अधिकारी (Click to Open)on Hindi Media..Article focusing on issue .
I try every legal possible thing but in our country they all are just useless. I send letters to President , Petroleum Minister but nothing happened and reason is our weak system .
My Letter to President
http://www.scribd.com/full/53929573?access_key=key-14jt7fm542o5dduqvs8x
My Letter to Minister of Petroleum
http://www.scribd.com/full/53930064?access_key=key-kdut0z2jhrx09w9xg8s
At last the CVC Report on Charge sheet
http://www.scribd.com/full/53929579?access_key=key-9l81mw20bmev5euyhp9
I request to People that Please Read My Letter to President and understand the seriousness of issue.
INTRODUCTION
I R.P.SRIVASTAVA, 56 year old ,male Graduated in Science and Chemical Technology in the year 1975, after an stint of 1 year at Eicher Tractors and 6 years in Kansai Nerolac(erstwhile Goodlass Nerolac), I joined HPCL in 1982 as an Operations Officer in Grade ‘A’.
BACKGROUND
I joined HP Management Staff Association /Oil Sector Officers Association in 1995 as Treasurer and
successfully achieved several milestones under the leadership of my President Shri Ashok Singh viz. large no.of Promotions for the officers in 1995 , Salary Revision of 2000, Revision in C&B issues and host of officer’s welfare schemes etc. Privatization of HPCL/BPCL was opposed by us and finally halted permanently by Hon’ble Supreme Court orders in Sept 2003,later an attempt by then Govt. to merge HPCL with ONGC was successfully stopped by our convincing presentations
THECASE
MOP&NG , and HPCL Management were scared of our prominence and looking for an opportune situation to fix us they came across one such event on 6.5.08 , while HPCL officers questioned Management for illegally ,arbitrarily appointing one of their favorite Sanjay Grover (who had resigned from HPCL to join MRPL), 3 grades higher in HPCL as a CEO of HPCL JV HINCOL ,Association appealed the Management to review this appointment and give fair opportunity to all eligible officers. After an amicable settlement , Management backed out and Charge Sheeted me & Ashok Singh on 7.5.08. Enquiry in this case commenced on 16.7.08 and despite our strong protests on illegalities, continued till 7.11.08 I had moved Hon’ble Mumbai High court against illegalities in the conduct of Enquiry and filed a petition no. 2254 in Sept 2008 , Hon’ble Mumbai High court in their order dt 1.10.08 gave
me the liberty to approach again in case of an adverse order from HPCL Management . The DA Dir(M) did not even allow us mandatory 15 days period for replying to the Enquiry officer's report and
summoning Dir. HR & GM- HR (mktg.) as witnesses. HPCL summarily dismissed both of us on 12.3.09, my
appeal dt 27.3.09 was rejected on 15.7.09 and I was evicted from the company accommodation .Ashok Singh’s appeal was rejected on 21.09.09 and we both were removed from the company by order dt. 1.10.09.
MARKER SYSTEM
One marker system was introduced in all oil companies (IOC,BPC,HPC) from 1.10.06, and on our instructions an advocate was collecting all information through RTI about irregularities and corruption in the purchase and implementation of Marker system since Nov. 2007 ,all information’s were received on 6.5.08. This marker system was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister Shri Murli Deora on 1.10.2006 at IOC’s Bijwasan Terminal in presence of Sh. Sajjan Kumar, Shri M.S.Srinivasan and Sh. Ashok Badhwar President of Dealers Association for checking adultration of Petrol& Diesel . In fact MOP&NG even amended the Marketing Discipline Guidelines to facilitate a private supplier to inspect Retail Outlets(Petrol Pumps)and officers had complained to us that Private company officers were extorting Money from ignorant Dealers.
Me and Ashok Singh , filed a CBI complaint on 12.5.08, , against then Secy. Petroleum &Nat. gas Sh. M.S
Srinivasan and Private suppliers M/s Authentix/SGS , furious HPCL Management in retaliation promptly
suspended Ashok Singh on 16.5.08 alleging irregularities at one Sajgaon outlet , to which he was not even remotely connected .HPCL Management even recorded in their Board notes on 29th june 2008 and 30th july 2008
that we will be fixed & penalized . We both appealed to CVC for whistle blower protection under Govt. of India’s resolution and even met Vigilance Commissioner personally to apprise him of the case on 6.6.08, 21/22.7.08 and 7.8.08 , instead getting us protected,
our miseries compounded and HPCL Management unleashed chain of atrocities on me and took a vowto finish us once and for all. Management served me 2nd charge sheet on 30.7.08 for displaying some marker related report on Association notice board on 6.6.08(that day I was in CVC's office at Delhi which has been confirmed by CVC in response to a RTI) , in fact this so called confidential Marker report was already published by a website Indianpetro.com on
21.5.08 it self .Enquiry in this case commenced on 21.11.08 and abruptly discontinued on 18.2.09BYEnquiry Officer. Since May 2008 , Management was looking for an opportunity to remove me from the company and in this process, they evicted me from my office on 15.10.08, and made to sit under stairs case , took away assistance and curtailed my benefits and even deducted the Salary . Management swiftly used OSOA strike of 7-9th Jan 2009 to fix me and implicated once again into a false charge of instigating the officers and suspended on 9.1.09. It is noteworthy that I myself had not even participated in that strike and was on duty.
Basis a news item on Marker system , which appeared in TOI of 4.6.08, a PIL No. 60 was filed in Mumbai High Court on 16.6.08 ,by a social activist Shri Simpreet Singh, Hon’ble Mumbai High Court ordered CBI enquiry in this PIL case on 23.10.08 , and the marker was abruptly discontinued by all oil companies on 31.12.08,As per news item in Indian Express dated 5.10.08 and TOI dated 16.6.09 the marker was not tamper proof and launder able by ordinary clay. It was also established by HPCL appointed R&D advisor that it was carcinogenic in nature( could cause cancer in human being), still despite court orders oil companies placed order for 3 months from ( 1.10.08-31.12.08) and marker doping was continued.CBI has already filed PE in this case on 29.4.09 against the Secy. Petroleum ,Private supplier and OMC (oil marketing company)officers.CNN-IBN in their news telecast on 21.9.09, have confirmed that supplier Authentix was already a black listed company abroad named as ( BIOCODE) and CVC has ordered CBI enquiry against erring senior Ministry officials .
Our case is a glaring example of abuse of Authority by those in power , whether beaurocrats, politician and victimization of Honest , upright and Bold officers who dared to expose corruption in High places . There is a determined effort by all powerful C&MD HPCL and its directors to circumvent laid down procedures , harass, humiliate and even sacked officers like us to demonstrate other colleagues in the Oil Industry, that they will meet the same fate , if they even dared to question Management decisions. Whatever we had complained to CBI has been vindicated.The entire action against us is in retaliation and revenge by HPCL Management for filing CBI complaint.
Respectable Madam , our life has been ruined by these Greedy , corrupt officials and leaders , you are our last hope before we exercise the options , available under the Law. As a stake holder and President of this Nation and 51% shareholder of HPCL , this company has lost more than Rs. 10000 cr. of Market capitalization because of corruption, Mismanagement and frauds of present HPCL Management.
Prayer
1. We are reinstated in HPCL with our full back wages and career progression .
2. The guilty officers are brought to book , through an impartial , fair enquiry by CBI ,as ordered byHon’ble High Court and CVC.
In Media there is coverage but the National main stream media still not interested in this matter because of the intensity of the matter and reach of government in this issues .But few reports came in media but still very much insufficient .
Video link of TV9 News on 18.9.2010
">
TV9 PANEL DISCUSSION 27.1.2011 @ 7.00 PM AT THEIR STUDIO
">
IBN LOKMAT PANEL DISCUSSION ON 28.1.2011 9.50 PM
http://ibnlokmat.tv/showvideo.php?id=147582 ,http://ibnlokmat.tv/showvideo.php?id=147582
Video link of CNN IBN NEWS ON 28.01.2011 BY Sumon k chakraborti& Shoab Ahmed
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-mulls-use-of-controversial-fuel-marker/141790-3.html
CNN IBN PANEL DISCUSSION ON CHANNEL WITH NARENDRA TANEJA, RPN SINGH, ANU MISHRA ON 27.1.2011 RAJ DEEP SIRDESAI
http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/141694/can-the-government-reign-in-the-oil-mafia.html
“ This case is a glaring example that to what extent whistle blowers can be tortured , humiliated for raising voice against rampant corruption and taught a lesson by giving an exemplary punishment by mighty corporation and Ministry , I dont know when justice will be delivered and will it account for miseries , hardships ,suffered in last 27 months by us and our families .”
All I just want to put a point in front of people that how our Higher Government worked and how the wrong things are happening in government sector like in Oil Industry and when people like me and Ashok Singh raised a voice then the treatment which we get from authorities is in front of you .
I demand support because there are many people in different – different industry who wants to speak up and if I succeeded and get support of people then it encourages other people to raise voice against the high profile industries and governments.
R. P. Srivastava
ravi4354@gmail.com
Blog http://raviprakash4354.blogspot.com
India Against corruption Activist and Volunteer from Navi Mumbai
“People are ignoring the truth and turn blind on things but without solving these hard issues , our country will never able to see a better future. So we have to support right people & speak openly and have to demand heavy changes because our country needs it.” Easytoact
Sunday, April 24, 2011
l लग्नशील अधिकारी कब तक पाएंगे सच बोलने की सजा
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लग्नशील अधिकारी कब तक पाएंगे सच बोलने की सजा?
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यह कहानी नहीं है, एक सच्चाई है, जो हम में से किसी के भी साथ घट सकती है, हमारी सरकार ने आर.टी.आई. एक्ट बनाकर अपने एक दायित्व का निर्वाह तो कर लिया पर यह नहीं सोचा कि जो लोग सूचना के अधिकार का प्रयोग कर के सच को सामने लाने का साहस करेंगे उन्हें इस सरकार के नेता और नौकरशाह किस तरह से प्रताड़ित एवं अपमानित करके सजा देंगे? इस बारे में बचाव का कोई प्रावधान इस एक्ट में नहीं किया गया। इस घटना के 2 पात्र रवि श्रीवास्तव और अशोक सिंह, हिंदुस्तान पेट्रोलियम कारपोरेशन लिमिटेड (एच.पी.सी.एल.) में वरिष्ठ प्रबंधक व मुख्य प्रबंधक के पद पर कार्य करते थे। इसके अतिरिक्त पेट्रोलियम मंत्रालय के तहत आनेवाली 13 तेल कंपनियों की OSOA के नाम से कार्यरत फेडरेशन के कोषाध्यक्ष व अध्यक्ष भी थे। एच.पी.सी.एल. एवं बी.पी.सी.एल. का निजीकरण इन्हीं दोनों की अगुवाई में माननीय उच्च्तम न्यायालय ने रोक दिया था। बाद में सरकार ने एच.पी.सी.एल. को ओ.एन.जी.सी. के साथ विलय करना चाहा तो उसको भी इन लोगों ने प्रभावी प्रस्तुतीकरण कर रुकवा दिया था।
इन दोनों की इन्हीं उपलब्घियों के कारण सरकार इन्हें अपने निर्णय की राह में कांटा समझती थी और मंत्रालय इन्हीं के कारण कंपनियों का दोहन अपने मन मुताबिक नहीं कर पा रहा था। एच.पी.सी.एल. प्रबंधन व शास्त्री भवन में बैठे उनके आका किसी ऐसे मौके की तलाश में थे जिससे इनको किसी तरह कंपनी से निकाल दिया जाए। इनकी फेडरेशन भी पंगु हो जाए और कंपनियों के प्रंबधन निर्बाध रूप से अपना दमन चक्र चला सकें।
ऐसा एक सुअवसर एच.पी.सी.एल. प्रबंधन को मई 2008 में तब मिला जब कंपनी के अधिकारियों ने प्रबंधन के एक मनमाने निर्णय का विरोध किया। एच.पी.सी.एल. ने अपनी ही एक जे.वी. (हिंकोल) में कंपनी छोड़कर 2 साल पहले ही चले गए एक अधिकारी की 3 ग्रेड ऊपर नियुक्त कर के उसको हिंकोल का अध्यक्ष बना दिया जब कि इस पद के लिए उससे पहले कंपनी में 150 और उपयुक्त अधिकारी थे। 6 मई को एच.पी.सी.एल. की चेंबूर स्थित कालोनी में निर्देशक (मानव संसाधन) व महाप्रंबधक (मानव संसाधन) स्वयं आए जहां लगभग 400 अधिकारियों ने अपने हितों की रक्षा के लिए उन्हें आड़े हाथों लिया। फलस्वरूप अगले ही दिन 7 मई 2008 को रवि श्रीवास्तव एवं अशोक सिंह को आरोप पत्र थमा दिए गए।
इस मामले में उल्लेखनीय है कि जुलाई 2006 में पेट्रोलियम मंत्रालय ने तेल कंपनियो में एक ‘मार्कर’ सिस्टम लागू करने का निर्णय लिया था। यह कदम इसलिए उठाया गया जिससे पेट्रोल व डिजल में केरोसीन की मिलावट को रोका जा सके। इसके लिए एक ब्रिटिश कंपनी ‘आथेंट्रिक्स’ व उसके भारतीय एजेंट एस.जी.एस. को नियुक्त करने का आदेश तत्कालीन पेट्रोलियम सचिव एम.एस. श्रीनिवासन ने तेल कंपनियों को दिया। इस कंपनी को 200 करोड़ करोड़ रुपए का ठेका देने से पहले ना तो ‘मार्कर’ के माप दंड, पर्यावरण प्रभाव, फार्मूला व टेंडर देखे गए और न ही विशेषताओं का आकलन किया गया। निजी कंपनी को पेट्रोल पंप पर निरीक्षण करने का आदेश भी मंत्रालय ने 15 फरवरी 2007 को पारित कर दिया। इस तरह के एक तरफा निर्णय से तेल कंपनियों के बिक्री अधिकारी अंसतुष्ट थे और उन्होंने सिंह व श्रीवास्तव को अवगत कराया कि एस.जी.एस. के कर्मचारी पंपो से ‘‘झूठा फेल’’ दिखा कर हफ्ता वसूली कर रहे है। ज्ञात रहे कि 1अक्टूबर 2006 को पेट्रोलियम मंत्री मुरली देवड़ा ने स्वयं इंडियन आयल के बिजवासन टर्मिनल में उपरोक्त ‘मार्कर’ का उद्घाटन किया था, इस समारोह में स्थानीय सांसद सज्जन कुमार, पेट्रोल डीलर एसोशियन के अध्यक्ष अशोक बघवार उपस्थित थे। श्रीनिवासन सहित तेल कंम्पनियों के अनेक उच्च अधिकारी भी समारोह में उपस्थित थे।
नवम्बर 2007 में मुंबई के एक वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ता ने आर.टी.आई. एक्ट का प्रयोग करेक ‘मार्कर’ खरीद संबंधी जानकारी तेल कंपनियों व मंत्रालय से मांगी। शुरुआती ना नुकुर के बाद 6 मई को इंडियन आयल ने उक्त जानकारी उपलब्ध करवा दी।
इस जानकारी को आधार मान कर सिंह व श्रीवास्तव ने 12 मई 2008 को सीबीआई के क्षेत्रीय निदेशक के सम्मुख लिखित शिकायत दर्ज करवा दी। यहां यह बताना जरूरी है कि सरकार के Whistle Blower Protection प्रस्ताव में यह कहीं नहीं कहा गया है कि शिकायत सीवीसी को ही की जाए। यहां उल्लेखनीय है कि यह मामला उन विशेष मामलों में से एक है जिसमें किसी अधिकारी ने अपने नियोक्ता के विरूद्ध भ्रष्टाचार की शिकायत दर्ज करवाई हो।
शिकायत दर्ज होते ही सरकार का दमनचक्र पूरी तेजी से चल पडा। 4 दिनों के अंदर ही सिंह को उसके क्षेत्र में एक पेट्रेल पंप पर वित्तीय गड़बड़ी का हवाला देकर निलंबित कर दिया गया। निलंबन के विशेषाधिकार का प्रयोग कर, उसके कार्यालय में प्रवेश, ईमेल, आदि बंद कर दिए गए। अशोक सिंह के क्षेत्र में कुल ऐसे 140 पंप थे। दोनों अधिकारियों ने 27 मई को को पत्र लिख कर सीवीसी से ‘प्रोटेक्शन’ की मांग की। 6 जून, 22 जुलाई व 7 अगस्त को स्वयं सीवीसी सुधीर कुमार से स्वयं मिलकर उन्हें पूरे घटनाक्रम से अवगत कराया। सीवीसी कार्यालय का अनुभव इन अधिकारियों पर गाज की तरह गिरा। जितने बार यह उस कार्यालय में गए हर बार एच.पी.सी.एल. ने एक नया केस इन पर लगा दिया।
रवि श्रीवास्तव को एक आरोप पत्र 30 जुलाई 2008 और एक कारण बताओ नोटिस 2 सितंबर 2008 को दे दिया जिसमें आधारहीन आरोप लगाए गए। उदाहरण के लिए कहा गया कि 6 जून 2008 को श्रीवास्तव ने मार्कर संबंधी कोई तकनीकी रिपोर्ट एसोशिएशन के सूचनापट पर लगा दी जब कि वह 6 जून को दिल्ली में CVC कार्यालय में थे और वह तकनीकी रिपोर्ट 21 मई 2008 को ही पेट्रोलियम क्षेत्र की एक वेबसाईट indianpetro.com पर प्रकाशित हो चुकी थी।
30 अक्टूबर को सीवीसी ने आदेश पारित करके पूरे मामले से अपना पल्ला झाड़ लिया। सीवीसी के आदेश में कहा गया कि ‘‘दोनों अधिकारी केवल शिकायती है और इन्हें कार्य संबंधित किसी प्रकार का प्रोटेक्शन नहीं दिया जा सकता’’
16 जून 2008 को मुंबई उच्च न्यायालय में ‘मार्कर’ घोटाले पर एक जनहित याचिका दाखिल की गई। यह याचिका सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सिमप्रीत सिंह ने की थी माननीय उच्च न्यायालय नें अपने निर्णय में 23 अक्टूबर 2008 को सीबीआई को मामलें की जांच करने का आदेश दे दिया और मंत्रालय के सतर्कता विभाग को अलग से जांच करने को कहा। 21 अपै्रल 2009 को मुंबई सीबीआई ने प्राथमिक जांच दर्ज कर ली।
31 दिसम्बर 2008 को बिना किसी प्रकार का कारण बताए देश भर में ‘मार्कर’ प्रणाली को बंद कर दिया गया जो आज तक बंद है। करोड़ों रुपए का ‘मार्कर’ रसायन जो तेल कंपनियों के पास पडा था वह बरबाद हो गया।
इस बीच सिंह व श्रीवास्तव के विरूद्ध 7 मई 2008 के आरोप पत्र की जांच शुरू कर दी गई जो उनके विरोध करने व गवाहों को बुलाने के आग्रह के बावजूद 11 नवम्बर को समाप्त कर दी गई। इस बीच श्रीवास्तव के सहायकों को हटा दिया गया। वेतन व भत्तों में कटौती कर दी गई और उन्हें उनके कार्यालय से निकाल सीढ़ियों के नीचे बैठने की जगह दी गई। इस सब का उद्देश्य उन्हें भी कंपनी से निकालना ही था। 7-9 जनवरी 2009 का जब देश भर के तेल अधिकारी हडत़ाल पर गए तब एच.पी.सी.एल. के अधिकारियों को उकसाने के आरोप में उन्हें भी निलंबित कर दिया गया। आश्चर्यजनक बात यह थी एच.पी.सी.एल. हडताल में शामिल ही नहीं थी तथा श्रीवास्तव स्वंय हडताल के दौरान कार्यालय में ही थे।
6 मई की जांच रिपोर्ट को आधार मान कर दोनों अधिकारियों को 12 मार्च 2009 को H.P.C.l. से बरखास्त कर दिया गया। श्रीवास्तव को 2 अगस्त 2009 को भरी बरसात में सामान सहित कंपनी के घर से निकाल दिया गया। इस निर्णय के विरोध में की गई अपील को 1 अक्टूबर 2009 को खारिज कर दिया गया। 21 सितम्बर 2009 को CNN - IBN ने अपनी ब्रेकिंग न्यूज में मार्कर घोटाले का पर्दाफाश किया और बताया कि ‘आथेंट्रिक्स’ विदेश में ‘Biocode’ के नाम से पहले से ही काली सूची में थी, और जो मार्कर 13000/- प्रति लीटर की दर से खरीदा गया उसका कोई मूल्यांकन ही नहीं किया गया था। 22 जून को टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया ने लिखा कि ‘मार्कर’ Carciongenic है यानि इससे मनुष्य को कैंसर जैसी गंभीर बीमारी भी हो सकती है यह बात H.P.C.l. D S R & D सलाहकार ए. के. भटनागर ने पेट्रोटेक 2005 के सेमिनार में जनवरी 2005 में ही बता दी थी। इंडियन एक्सप्रेस ने 5 अक्टूबर 2008 के समाचार में लिखा कि यह मार्कर जो करोडों रुपए में खरीदा गया था उसे मामूली Clay से साफ किया जा सकता था।
एच.पी.सी.एल. ने जुलाई 2008 में अधिकारियों की एसोशिएशन - HPMSA की मान्यता रद्द कर दी और आधे से ज्यादा अधिकारियों को डरा धमका कर उनसे सदस्यता से इस्तीफा ले लिया। यद्यपि श्रम न्यायालय ने 31 अगस्त 2009 को एसोशिएशन की मान्यता बहाल कर दी।
एच.पी.सी.एल. ने जिस तरह अपमानित करके दो साहसी अधिकारियों को बरखास्त किया वह तेल कंपनियों के इतिहास में काले अक्षरों से लिखा जाएगा। 200 करोड़ रुपए के घोटाले का पर्दाफाश करने वाले अधिकारियों के साथ ऐसा बर्ताव दूसरों को उदाहरण देने के लिए किया गया कि भविष्य में अगर कोई अधिकारी इस तरह का दुस्साहस करेगा तो उसका क्या परिणाम होगा।
सीवीसी और सीबीआई का बर्ताव पूरे घटनाक्रम में अत्यंत संदेहास्पद रहा है। मंत्रालय ने मुंबई उच्च न्यायालय के आदेश पर जांच की या नहीं यह सारे प्रश्न अनुत्तरित हैं दोनों अधिकारियों ने अपनी बरखास्तगी को रद्द करने के लिए मुंबई उच्च न्यायालय में याचिका दाखिल कर दी है। दोनों अधिकारी पेशे से इंजीनियर हैं और 3 दशकों के उनके कार्यकाल में उनके विरुद्ध कभी किसी प्रकार का कोई आरोप नहीं लगा था। बल्कि दूसरे अधिकारियों के समक्ष उनकी कार्यक्षमता व योग्यता का उदाहरण दिया जाता था।
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यह कहानी नहीं है, एक सच्चाई है, जो हम में से किसी के भी साथ घट सकती है, हमारी सरकार ने आर.टी.आई. एक्ट बनाकर अपने एक दायित्व का निर्वाह तो कर लिया पर यह नहीं सोचा कि जो लोग सूचना के अधिकार का प्रयोग कर के सच को सामने लाने का साहस करेंगे उन्हें इस सरकार के नेता और नौकरशाह किस तरह से प्रताड़ित एवं अपमानित करके सजा देंगे? इस बारे में बचाव का कोई प्रावधान इस एक्ट में नहीं किया गया। इस घटना के 2 पात्र रवि श्रीवास्तव और अशोक सिंह, हिंदुस्तान पेट्रोलियम कारपोरेशन लिमिटेड (एच.पी.सी.एल.) में वरिष्ठ प्रबंधक व मुख्य प्रबंधक के पद पर कार्य करते थे। इसके अतिरिक्त पेट्रोलियम मंत्रालय के तहत आनेवाली 13 तेल कंपनियों की OSOA के नाम से कार्यरत फेडरेशन के कोषाध्यक्ष व अध्यक्ष भी थे। एच.पी.सी.एल. एवं बी.पी.सी.एल. का निजीकरण इन्हीं दोनों की अगुवाई में माननीय उच्च्तम न्यायालय ने रोक दिया था। बाद में सरकार ने एच.पी.सी.एल. को ओ.एन.जी.सी. के साथ विलय करना चाहा तो उसको भी इन लोगों ने प्रभावी प्रस्तुतीकरण कर रुकवा दिया था।
इन दोनों की इन्हीं उपलब्घियों के कारण सरकार इन्हें अपने निर्णय की राह में कांटा समझती थी और मंत्रालय इन्हीं के कारण कंपनियों का दोहन अपने मन मुताबिक नहीं कर पा रहा था। एच.पी.सी.एल. प्रबंधन व शास्त्री भवन में बैठे उनके आका किसी ऐसे मौके की तलाश में थे जिससे इनको किसी तरह कंपनी से निकाल दिया जाए। इनकी फेडरेशन भी पंगु हो जाए और कंपनियों के प्रंबधन निर्बाध रूप से अपना दमन चक्र चला सकें।
ऐसा एक सुअवसर एच.पी.सी.एल. प्रबंधन को मई 2008 में तब मिला जब कंपनी के अधिकारियों ने प्रबंधन के एक मनमाने निर्णय का विरोध किया। एच.पी.सी.एल. ने अपनी ही एक जे.वी. (हिंकोल) में कंपनी छोड़कर 2 साल पहले ही चले गए एक अधिकारी की 3 ग्रेड ऊपर नियुक्त कर के उसको हिंकोल का अध्यक्ष बना दिया जब कि इस पद के लिए उससे पहले कंपनी में 150 और उपयुक्त अधिकारी थे। 6 मई को एच.पी.सी.एल. की चेंबूर स्थित कालोनी में निर्देशक (मानव संसाधन) व महाप्रंबधक (मानव संसाधन) स्वयं आए जहां लगभग 400 अधिकारियों ने अपने हितों की रक्षा के लिए उन्हें आड़े हाथों लिया। फलस्वरूप अगले ही दिन 7 मई 2008 को रवि श्रीवास्तव एवं अशोक सिंह को आरोप पत्र थमा दिए गए।
इस मामले में उल्लेखनीय है कि जुलाई 2006 में पेट्रोलियम मंत्रालय ने तेल कंपनियो में एक ‘मार्कर’ सिस्टम लागू करने का निर्णय लिया था। यह कदम इसलिए उठाया गया जिससे पेट्रोल व डिजल में केरोसीन की मिलावट को रोका जा सके। इसके लिए एक ब्रिटिश कंपनी ‘आथेंट्रिक्स’ व उसके भारतीय एजेंट एस.जी.एस. को नियुक्त करने का आदेश तत्कालीन पेट्रोलियम सचिव एम.एस. श्रीनिवासन ने तेल कंपनियों को दिया। इस कंपनी को 200 करोड़ करोड़ रुपए का ठेका देने से पहले ना तो ‘मार्कर’ के माप दंड, पर्यावरण प्रभाव, फार्मूला व टेंडर देखे गए और न ही विशेषताओं का आकलन किया गया। निजी कंपनी को पेट्रोल पंप पर निरीक्षण करने का आदेश भी मंत्रालय ने 15 फरवरी 2007 को पारित कर दिया। इस तरह के एक तरफा निर्णय से तेल कंपनियों के बिक्री अधिकारी अंसतुष्ट थे और उन्होंने सिंह व श्रीवास्तव को अवगत कराया कि एस.जी.एस. के कर्मचारी पंपो से ‘‘झूठा फेल’’ दिखा कर हफ्ता वसूली कर रहे है। ज्ञात रहे कि 1अक्टूबर 2006 को पेट्रोलियम मंत्री मुरली देवड़ा ने स्वयं इंडियन आयल के बिजवासन टर्मिनल में उपरोक्त ‘मार्कर’ का उद्घाटन किया था, इस समारोह में स्थानीय सांसद सज्जन कुमार, पेट्रोल डीलर एसोशियन के अध्यक्ष अशोक बघवार उपस्थित थे। श्रीनिवासन सहित तेल कंम्पनियों के अनेक उच्च अधिकारी भी समारोह में उपस्थित थे।
नवम्बर 2007 में मुंबई के एक वरिष्ठ अधिवक्ता ने आर.टी.आई. एक्ट का प्रयोग करेक ‘मार्कर’ खरीद संबंधी जानकारी तेल कंपनियों व मंत्रालय से मांगी। शुरुआती ना नुकुर के बाद 6 मई को इंडियन आयल ने उक्त जानकारी उपलब्ध करवा दी।
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शिकायत दर्ज होते ही सरकार का दमनचक्र पूरी तेजी से चल पडा। 4 दिनों के अंदर ही सिंह को उसके क्षेत्र में एक पेट्रेल पंप पर वित्तीय गड़बड़ी का हवाला देकर निलंबित कर दिया गया। निलंबन के विशेषाधिकार का प्रयोग कर, उसके कार्यालय में प्रवेश, ईमेल, आदि बंद कर दिए गए। अशोक सिंह के क्षेत्र में कुल ऐसे 140 पंप थे। दोनों अधिकारियों ने 27 मई को को पत्र लिख कर सीवीसी से ‘प्रोटेक्शन’ की मांग की। 6 जून, 22 जुलाई व 7 अगस्त को स्वयं सीवीसी सुधीर कुमार से स्वयं मिलकर उन्हें पूरे घटनाक्रम से अवगत कराया। सीवीसी कार्यालय का अनुभव इन अधिकारियों पर गाज की तरह गिरा। जितने बार यह उस कार्यालय में गए हर बार एच.पी.सी.एल. ने एक नया केस इन पर लगा दिया।
रवि श्रीवास्तव को एक आरोप पत्र 30 जुलाई 2008 और एक कारण बताओ नोटिस 2 सितंबर 2008 को दे दिया जिसमें आधारहीन आरोप लगाए गए। उदाहरण के लिए कहा गया कि 6 जून 2008 को श्रीवास्तव ने मार्कर संबंधी कोई तकनीकी रिपोर्ट एसोशिएशन के सूचनापट पर लगा दी जब कि वह 6 जून को दिल्ली में CVC कार्यालय में थे और वह तकनीकी रिपोर्ट 21 मई 2008 को ही पेट्रोलियम क्षेत्र की एक वेबसाईट indianpetro.com पर प्रकाशित हो चुकी थी।
30 अक्टूबर को सीवीसी ने आदेश पारित करके पूरे मामले से अपना पल्ला झाड़ लिया। सीवीसी के आदेश में कहा गया कि ‘‘दोनों अधिकारी केवल शिकायती है और इन्हें कार्य संबंधित किसी प्रकार का प्रोटेक्शन नहीं दिया जा सकता’’
16 जून 2008 को मुंबई उच्च न्यायालय में ‘मार्कर’ घोटाले पर एक जनहित याचिका दाखिल की गई। यह याचिका सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता सिमप्रीत सिंह ने की थी माननीय उच्च न्यायालय नें अपने निर्णय में 23 अक्टूबर 2008 को सीबीआई को मामलें की जांच करने का आदेश दे दिया और मंत्रालय के सतर्कता विभाग को अलग से जांच करने को कहा। 21 अपै्रल 2009 को मुंबई सीबीआई ने प्राथमिक जांच दर्ज कर ली।
31 दिसम्बर 2008 को बिना किसी प्रकार का कारण बताए देश भर में ‘मार्कर’ प्रणाली को बंद कर दिया गया जो आज तक बंद है। करोड़ों रुपए का ‘मार्कर’ रसायन जो तेल कंपनियों के पास पडा था वह बरबाद हो गया।
इस बीच सिंह व श्रीवास्तव के विरूद्ध 7 मई 2008 के आरोप पत्र की जांच शुरू कर दी गई जो उनके विरोध करने व गवाहों को बुलाने के आग्रह के बावजूद 11 नवम्बर को समाप्त कर दी गई। इस बीच श्रीवास्तव के सहायकों को हटा दिया गया। वेतन व भत्तों में कटौती कर दी गई और उन्हें उनके कार्यालय से निकाल सीढ़ियों के नीचे बैठने की जगह दी गई। इस सब का उद्देश्य उन्हें भी कंपनी से निकालना ही था। 7-9 जनवरी 2009 का जब देश भर के तेल अधिकारी हडत़ाल पर गए तब एच.पी.सी.एल. के अधिकारियों को उकसाने के आरोप में उन्हें भी निलंबित कर दिया गया। आश्चर्यजनक बात यह थी एच.पी.सी.एल. हडताल में शामिल ही नहीं थी तथा श्रीवास्तव स्वंय हडताल के दौरान कार्यालय में ही थे।
6 मई की जांच रिपोर्ट को आधार मान कर दोनों अधिकारियों को 12 मार्च 2009 को H.P.C.l. से बरखास्त कर दिया गया। श्रीवास्तव को 2 अगस्त 2009 को भरी बरसात में सामान सहित कंपनी के घर से निकाल दिया गया। इस निर्णय के विरोध में की गई अपील को 1 अक्टूबर 2009 को खारिज कर दिया गया। 21 सितम्बर 2009 को CNN - IBN ने अपनी ब्रेकिंग न्यूज में मार्कर घोटाले का पर्दाफाश किया और बताया कि ‘आथेंट्रिक्स’ विदेश में ‘Biocode’ के नाम से पहले से ही काली सूची में थी, और जो मार्कर 13000/- प्रति लीटर की दर से खरीदा गया उसका कोई मूल्यांकन ही नहीं किया गया था। 22 जून को टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया ने लिखा कि ‘मार्कर’ Carciongenic है यानि इससे मनुष्य को कैंसर जैसी गंभीर बीमारी भी हो सकती है यह बात H.P.C.l. D S R & D सलाहकार ए. के. भटनागर ने पेट्रोटेक 2005 के सेमिनार में जनवरी 2005 में ही बता दी थी। इंडियन एक्सप्रेस ने 5 अक्टूबर 2008 के समाचार में लिखा कि यह मार्कर जो करोडों रुपए में खरीदा गया था उसे मामूली Clay से साफ किया जा सकता था।
एच.पी.सी.एल. ने जुलाई 2008 में अधिकारियों की एसोशिएशन - HPMSA की मान्यता रद्द कर दी और आधे से ज्यादा अधिकारियों को डरा धमका कर उनसे सदस्यता से इस्तीफा ले लिया। यद्यपि श्रम न्यायालय ने 31 अगस्त 2009 को एसोशिएशन की मान्यता बहाल कर दी।
एच.पी.सी.एल. ने जिस तरह अपमानित करके दो साहसी अधिकारियों को बरखास्त किया वह तेल कंपनियों के इतिहास में काले अक्षरों से लिखा जाएगा। 200 करोड़ रुपए के घोटाले का पर्दाफाश करने वाले अधिकारियों के साथ ऐसा बर्ताव दूसरों को उदाहरण देने के लिए किया गया कि भविष्य में अगर कोई अधिकारी इस तरह का दुस्साहस करेगा तो उसका क्या परिणाम होगा।
सीवीसी और सीबीआई का बर्ताव पूरे घटनाक्रम में अत्यंत संदेहास्पद रहा है। मंत्रालय ने मुंबई उच्च न्यायालय के आदेश पर जांच की या नहीं यह सारे प्रश्न अनुत्तरित हैं दोनों अधिकारियों ने अपनी बरखास्तगी को रद्द करने के लिए मुंबई उच्च न्यायालय में याचिका दाखिल कर दी है। दोनों अधिकारी पेशे से इंजीनियर हैं और 3 दशकों के उनके कार्यकाल में उनके विरुद्ध कभी किसी प्रकार का कोई आरोप नहीं लगा था। बल्कि दूसरे अधिकारियों के समक्ष उनकी कार्यक्षमता व योग्यता का उदाहरण दिया जाता था।
रवि श्रीवास्तव
Mallya’s cheque
Mallya’s cheque
He owns Bangalore-based IPL cricket team Royal Challengers but MP and liquor baron Vijay Mallya still can’t raise enough money to pay for jet fuel used by his beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines. PETROWATCH learns a $44.5m cheque (Receipt Number: 10001386RU13010 drawn on
Petrowatch Information (India) Pvt. Ltd. | World Trade Centre | 83-84 UGF | Delhi - 110 001
Tel: +91 11 2341 4181 | Fax: +91 11 2341 4182 | info@petrowatch.com
Copyright © 2010 PETROWATCH. All rights reserved
3
Mumbai-based Axis Bank) issued by Mallya on March 31 towards an outstanding bill of $129m with Hindustan Petroleum has bounced! HPCL sources tell us Mallya exceeded his credit limit of $65.3m long ago but that HPCL continues to supply jet fuel to his airline on credit. Last March the oil ministry directed HPCL to stop supplying fuel to Kingfisher on credit and only against cash. But HPCL insiders tell us of a company “nexus” that continues to supply fuel to Kingfisher on credit in defiance of the ministry order. HPCL is not the only state-owned company suffering the Mallya cash-crunch. The Formula 1 ‘Force India’ team owner also has an outstanding bill of $58m with Bharat Petroleum, which he is contesting. (Back)
He owns Bangalore-based IPL cricket team Royal Challengers but MP and liquor baron Vijay Mallya still can’t raise enough money to pay for jet fuel used by his beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines. PETROWATCH learns a $44.5m cheque (Receipt Number: 10001386RU13010 drawn on
Petrowatch Information (India) Pvt. Ltd. | World Trade Centre | 83-84 UGF | Delhi - 110 001
Tel: +91 11 2341 4181 | Fax: +91 11 2341 4182 | info@petrowatch.com
Copyright © 2010 PETROWATCH. All rights reserved
3
Mumbai-based Axis Bank) issued by Mallya on March 31 towards an outstanding bill of $129m with Hindustan Petroleum has bounced! HPCL sources tell us Mallya exceeded his credit limit of $65.3m long ago but that HPCL continues to supply jet fuel to his airline on credit. Last March the oil ministry directed HPCL to stop supplying fuel to Kingfisher on credit and only against cash. But HPCL insiders tell us of a company “nexus” that continues to supply fuel to Kingfisher on credit in defiance of the ministry order. HPCL is not the only state-owned company suffering the Mallya cash-crunch. The Formula 1 ‘Force India’ team owner also has an outstanding bill of $58m with Bharat Petroleum, which he is contesting. (Back)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2011
HPCL lavishes $45,000 in gifts and perks to MPs
Titan watches, shawls, countless taxi and restaurant bills, as well as
extended stays in the country’s finest hotels. These are some of the
perks enjoyed by some of India’s MPs, courtesy Hindustan Petroleum,
the country’s second largest state-owned refiner. PETROWATCH learns
HPCL last year spent Rs21.6 lakhs ($45,000) on the MPs, most of them
members of the influential Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural
Gas. All the expenses, seen by this report on a detailed HPCL
spreadsheet, are meticulously documented, and apparently routine. Like
on June 30 last year, when HPCL cleared a bill of Rs5.38 lakhs
($11,700) to the Taj hotel in Mumbai for visiting standing committee
members. Or for that matter, on July 5 last year, when HPCL again paid
Rs3.74 lakhs ($8100) to the Taj to cover the stay of ‘Hon’ble MPs and
Govt. Officials.’ Delhi’s five-star Ashok hotel also gets a mention,
when on April 24 last year HPCL released Rs1.49 lakh ($3200) to pay
for parliamentary hospitality. Visits to the Kerala backwaters
likewise figure in the name of parliamentary democracy. On May 24,
HPCL paid a Rs2 lakh ($4300) demand draft (transaction number:
35323310) to an unidentified ‘GM Kerala’ to spend on parliamentary
committee hospitality. Strangely, HPCL insiders tell us no ‘GM Kerala’
position exists within the company. The list goes on, from the sublime
to the ridiculous, like a Rs12,280 ($270) payment on June 14 last year
to the distinctly non-political sounding Mangalore-based Stanley
Studio & Video and Rs20,400 ($440) to the equally non-political Elite
Arts, both on behalf of undisclosed standing committee MPs. Small
amounts they might be, but they go some way in explaining why India’s
politicians and bureaucrats are loathe to privatise the state-owned
oil behemoths they control.PETROWATCH
HPCL lavishes $45,000 in gifts and perks to MPs
Titan watches, shawls, countless taxi and restaurant bills, as well as
extended stays in the country’s finest hotels. These are some of the
perks enjoyed by some of India’s MPs, courtesy Hindustan Petroleum,
the country’s second largest state-owned refiner. PETROWATCH learns
HPCL last year spent Rs21.6 lakhs ($45,000) on the MPs, most of them
members of the influential Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural
Gas. All the expenses, seen by this report on a detailed HPCL
spreadsheet, are meticulously documented, and apparently routine. Like
on June 30 last year, when HPCL cleared a bill of Rs5.38 lakhs
($11,700) to the Taj hotel in Mumbai for visiting standing committee
members. Or for that matter, on July 5 last year, when HPCL again paid
Rs3.74 lakhs ($8100) to the Taj to cover the stay of ‘Hon’ble MPs and
Govt. Officials.’ Delhi’s five-star Ashok hotel also gets a mention,
when on April 24 last year HPCL released Rs1.49 lakh ($3200) to pay
for parliamentary hospitality. Visits to the Kerala backwaters
likewise figure in the name of parliamentary democracy. On May 24,
HPCL paid a Rs2 lakh ($4300) demand draft (transaction number:
35323310) to an unidentified ‘GM Kerala’ to spend on parliamentary
committee hospitality. Strangely, HPCL insiders tell us no ‘GM Kerala’
position exists within the company. The list goes on, from the sublime
to the ridiculous, like a Rs12,280 ($270) payment on June 14 last year
to the distinctly non-political sounding Mangalore-based Stanley
Studio & Video and Rs20,400 ($440) to the equally non-political Elite
Arts, both on behalf of undisclosed standing committee MPs. Small
amounts they might be, but they go some way in explaining why India’s
politicians and bureaucrats are loathe to privatise the state-owned
oil behemoths they control.PETROWATCH
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