Bhubaneswar: In a glaring example of how rules are tweaked in appointments to key positions in government departments, it has come to fore that Motilal Gouda, the suspended Assistant director of the Department of Factories (Medical) who has been accused of issuing a fake gazette notification and receiving kickback worth more than Rs 1 crore, had not obtained a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Health department before joining the Labour department.
Official sources said Gouda, whose name was in the list of ‘absconders’ issued by State Health department in 2015, had started working in the Labour department in gross violation of service rules. He had not obtained an NOC, a prerequisite for joining any government department.
“Where is the question of NOC? He (Gouda) is absconding from the very second day in the department. He has been incommunicado since joining here,” said Chittaranjan Nayak, Director, Health department.
The question that inevitably arises is how Gouda was appointed the Assistant director of the Factories Department without submitting the mandatory documents.
Meanwhile, the BJP has alleged that Gouda enjoyed political patronage and was able to pocket Rs 63 lakh using his official position.
“It is interesting that he (Gouda) was absconding from Health department but was very much present with Law minister Arun Sahoo and legislator Byomakesh Ray. It is a pity that the ruling BJD is giving protection to such criminals. Now you will see how he (Gouda) will be protected in the court of law,” BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said criticizing the BJD.
Citing this as a matter of serious concern in which an ‘absconder’ joined a government department without the mandatory documents, the Congress party has demanded a CBI probe into the case.
“If the minister and the concerned MLAs are not arrested, we will hit the streets. We demand a CBI probe into the matter,” said Manoj Biswal, a leader of Youth Congress.
Scotching BJP’s allegations of political patronage enjoyed by Gouda, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said, “The matter has been handed over to the Crime Branch. All the culprits will be punished.”