Top DGCA officer could face axe on malpractice charges

After a probe by DGCA itself, the Civil Aviation Ministry has recommended initiation of 'major penalty proceedings' against Joint Director General A K Sharan for granting approval to M/S Touchwood Entertainment to start a flying school in Raipur without necessary facilities including an aircraft, official sources said, adding Sharan has already been under suspension for several months now.

Inspections carried out by DGCA had found that the flying school "had not acquired any aircraft" on the date of inspection, neither did it have a hangar to park the plane and its maintenance base was "far off" from the main training base at Raipur, they said, adding that all these findings were overlooked by Sharan and license was granted to the school.

Major penalty proceedings include disciplinary action including dismissal from service or demotion.

The internal probe by DGCA also found that Sharan had facilitated flying training for his daughter from the same flying school and got a Commercial Pilots License issued for her from there, the sources said.

The daughter had joined a no-frill private airline but quit after the scandal broke out earlier this year.

The ministry also recommended 'minor penalty proceedings' against Director (Airworthiness), R K Khanna, who is also under suspension. Such proceedings entail stoppage of an increment or a censure.

The ministry has sent these recommendations to the Chief Vigilance Commissioner for advise, the sources said, adding that the final decision on disciplinary action would be taken by the Union Public Service Commission which appoints personnel for the aviation regulator. (More)