Civil Aviation ministry destroyed note on Kingfisher, alleges Bhushan

kingfisherEK Bharat Bhushan, the former head of the country aviation sector watchdog has alleged that the ministry of civil aviation has destroyed the file page that contained his notes on Kingfisher airlines.

It is believed that Bhushan’s exit from the post of the head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was mainly due to the controversial note on the troubled Kingfisher airlines. Bhushan wrote a letter to the current DGCA head, Prasahnt Sukul, cabinet secretary Ajit Seth and aviation secretary Dr SNA Zaidi alleging his notes on the airlines are missing from the file.

“On July 9, 2012, I had received the file of Kingfisher Airlines financial surveillance and including an analysis of the situation prepared by the Deputy DG Lalit Gupta, which formed part of the file. On the same day, I recorded a note ordering notice to be served on the airline that unless they clear a substantial portion of the dues, including employees' salaries, within 15 days of receipt of the notice, their operational permit may be suspended,” a part of the letter read.

Arun Mishra is set take over as the new chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation within this month after the dramatic ouster of E. K. Bharat Bhushan from the post.

Joint Secretary Prashant Sukul is heading the country’s aviation sector regulator till the new heads joins office. Bhushan’s abrupt removal came just days after Appointments Committee reconfirmed his post at the DGCA. His removal is seems to be a direct result of pressure from airlines including Kingfisher Airlines and Air India. Bhushan made sure that the airlines ensured safety norms even as they continue to face financial problems and also objected to importing old aircraft, something that drew criticism from the airlines.