Ashok Khemka not deputed to PMO despite proposal

CHANDIGARH: The Civil Services Board (CSB) did not suggest senior Haryana bureaucrat Ashok Khemka's name to the appointments committee of the Cabinet ( ACC) for deputation to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The CSB had proposed Khemka's name initially in July 2014.

Khemka revelations about the land deal between Robert Vadra's firm and DLF ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections had triggered speculation that he would be employed by the PMO.

However, an RTI reply by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) has said that Khemka's deputation is still pending before the ACC and cannot be disclosed under RTI. Sources said a case clea red by CSB in July 2014 can't remain on hold for such long time because Khemka was considered for deputation to the PMO under Centre Staffing Scheme (CSS) 2014, the period for which expired on March 31, 2015.

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has now directed the central government to provide a copy of the agenda along with minutes of the meeting of the CSB on Khemka's deputation.

In its January 18 order, the CIC bench headed by information commissioner Sudhir Bhargava has set a deadline of four weeks for DoPT to supply the informa tion to Khemka.

Khemka has been transferred to inconsequential posts in his parent Haryana government ever since his revelations. He was appointed transport commissioner and secretary of Haryana's transport department in December 2014 after the Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government assumed took over. But he was posted to the archaeology and museum department within 126 days after he raised issues related to overloading of transport vehicles.

In April 2016, he was posted as principal secretary, science and technology, where he is serving at present.