Thursday, 15 January 2015 – 7:05am IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: dna
Jyotika Sood, Iftikhar Gilani
Avinash Chander (left) has been terminated from the post of DRDO Chief File Photo dna Research & Archives
Three major complaints against Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander, including two anonymous ones, were pending before the Prime Minister’s Office in November 2014, when he was given a contract of 16 months on his retirement. It is reliably learnt that investigations into the complaints went against him and thus he was summarily sacked two months after the extension in service.
What were the complaints about?
According to RTI by Uttarakhand-based Prabhu Dandriyal in December 2014, and accessed by dna, PMO had stated that it had received three complaints against Avinash Chander. The details of the two complaints could not be ascertained. The third complaint was filed by R K Gupta of Advance System Laboratory, Hyderabad. According to PMO sources, Gupta had made an allegation against DRDO chief Avinash Chander for favouring his junior. Gupta was apparently superseded by his junior scientist by bending the rules, sources added.
Why was the PM peeved?
Chander had to face PM’s ire also because of the mess in the DRDO. As per the PMO estimates losses worth around Rs 29,000 crore were accrued due to time and cost overruns in acquisitions/developmental projects. For example, the indigenous Aircraft Carrier will now cost Rs 19,341 crore from its original cost of Rs 3,241 crore. Similarly, in case of the Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer, the cost has been revised from Rs 3,850 crore to Rs 11,662 crore and timelines have been revised from 2010-11 to 2015-16.
What did dna report highlight?
In December, dna had exposed how Parliament Standing Committee on defence had rapped up DRDO for its shoddy research, inordinate delays, corruption and its fancy for reverse engineering.
What’s Parrikar’s justification for sacking Chander?
On Wednesday, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said, “It was my recommendation that the DRDO chief’s post should be held by a young person and not by someone on contract.”
Interestingly, the government has taken action against Chander, but there are many more scientists in DRDO working under extension rules even after their retirement. As on September 1, 2014, around ten scientists in category of distinguished scientists i.e. special secretary level and over a dozen scientists on grade H — outstanding scientists i.e. additional secretary level – are still working in DRDO. But no termination orders have come against them.
The government’s reason seems to be also ironical as it has recently appointed Vijay Kumar Saraswat, former DRDO chief, as full-time member of newly formed Niti Aayog. Saraswat had worked as DRDO director general post 60 years. He had got an extension of two + two years and finally retired on May 31, 2013. Saraswat is Chander’s predecessor and according to a senior scientist in DRDO, “both have ideological differences which was known to scientific fraternity.”
What are Chander’s credentials?
Avinash Chander is an IIT Delhi graduate and joined DRDO in August 1972. He has won several awards, including DRDO medal for scientist of the year for AGNI I, and is called the chief architect of the long range ballistic missiles in India. He had retired on November 1, 2014 but was given an extension, on contractual basis, till May 2016.
Irregular technical staff appointments,projects given for training in different private institutes and bribe taken for transfer of staff and officers by AK Singh DOP to be sacked immediately
The so called certified out standing scientist should made standing outside of DRDO
THANK YOU MODI JEE, STARTED SWACH DRDO………
you need to clean up more , its filled up with lot of obnormalities and unjustice in all cadres and administration actions
nobody is looking in to the crores infructuous expenditure has been going on in arihant submarine works
if one senior scientist (actually doing only admin work and not technical work….and harassing young scientist) then with his salary we can hire 10 scientist Bs that is young scientist with more work potential and output……simple…………..but i dont know what action will be taken
DRDO should abolish the Different Rule for Different Official ( DRDO) and one policy for one nation, to be scan the DRDO to remove all different scams virus (Recruitment,all cadre promotions and awards for last 15 years) in different all lab and punish responsible officials
Next point to be addressed is psychological corruption during assessments. Work part anyhow beinf assessed by bosses and performance reports are sent. In the name of academic calibre, an intervuew is called for and possibilities are overwritten there. As tge GATE like exams are widely accepted, why cant the assesse be mandated to take exam rather than interview. No need to say about lateral entry process. That also may be mandated to have Valid GATE score.
This was a good step by the government. I can not comment on technical capabilities of shri chandar but really DRDO needs young blood.
In my opinion all scientists who are on extension should also be removed immediately.
Hi ! DRTC assessment is full of bogus, it should be abolished immediately to save the sincere and honest working seniors. It is a pick and promote their kith and kin. It demoralising the working force.
Yes boss you are correct the respective directors always gave the names to chairman of DRTC assessment board whom they want to clear and names to whom they not be clear any cost.
If you people want proof about the above practice of DRTC assessment then I have audio recording of DRTC assessment board which clearly exposed the drama, if you want copy of audio please send your address.
Now DRDO have not father and not balance father’s propriety.PM was very good and he was also take good for DRDO. corrupt out from drdo this is group of corrupt official protected by Ex SA to RM.after 62 & 64 aim was only malpractice in government fund and use for medical treatment.mostly medically unfit scientist get service extension for 62 and 64 other was joint IDST
Modi jee, DRDO’s Chairman CEPTAM and RAC are also on contract. removed them immediately.
Our PM now look at the extensions in the name chair. most useless scientists are simply sitting and sleeping their. Most them are shunted out from home, they cannot be tolerated even at home.
Most of our DRDO senior most retired Scientist were done clerical work instead of scientific works and the existing Senior most scientist are also following same manner and their monthly payment make them into egoism.sadist and tantrik work without any work
All scientists on extension need to be removed out as they are in the habit of enjoying at office expenses and contributing nothing technically. Scientist E and above should be compulsorily transferred from one lab to another in a different zone to extract his/her technical knowledge and exposure new scientific thoughts. These transfers should not be made a tool to harass good scientists rather should be monitored through a software and should be notified in open in DRDo community.
Modiji and Parikar ji, plz do track that this scientist Chandra should not sell the technology to other countries.
I have seen both Avinash Chander and VK Saraswat very closely. I grew up in Kanchanbagh when these 2 were Sc’ B.
Avinash Chander was one of the sharpest minds to have walked in DRDL. Not only that, he was loved by everyone. He was an absolutely amazing guy and took the punishment of his seniors. He was not corrupt at all and one of the most righteous person. There are anecdotes of how he never used his name or title to get any benefits like many others at DRDL.
VK Saraswat was one of the most corrupt, ass licking, philanderer. Anyone who has lived in Kanchanbagh knows the ways of Saraswat. His wife used to be a teacher at KV Kanchanbagh. School children and her colleagues have seen how she would cry at school because of the affairs of her husband.
Saraswat epitomised the corruption and cronyism of DRDO and Avinash Chander was totally opposite of that. He grew in DRDO because RN Agrawal saw the spark in him while they were working on Agni together.
Avinash Chander’s sacking was a bad day for DRDO and Sarswat’s NITI aayog role was a blunder.