Pitroda not cleared for Jet
IN PARLIAMENT
| In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha last week, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said while security clearance was accorded to four directors, including Vijay Kelkar, a former finance secretary, it was still awaited for Sam G Pitroda. |
| Patel said in a written reply the company had sought security clearance after inducting certain individuals on its board of directors. |
| As per the stipulated norms on the appointment of a director, security clearance is "required to be obtained from the ministry of home affairs before the grant of an operating permit". |
| A Jet Airways spokesperson did not entertain any queries on the issue. |
| According to the offer document, released by Jet Airways for its initial public offer in February, Pitroda was appointed a director of the company on December 21, 2004. A day before the appointment, the company made a request to the government for his security clearance. |
| Jet Airways had sought security clearance of Charles A Adams in November 2003, PRS Oberoi in June 2004, Aman Mehta in October 2004 and Vijay Kelkar in November 2004, according to Patel. |
| The minister, however, clarified that no investigation had been conducted by the civil aviation ministry against Jet Airways in the past three years. |
| The DGCA circular of 1998, still in vogue, makes it very clear that the "appointment of any new director shall be made only after receiving a clearance from the government". |