Freedom of speech banned in Air India
It refers to the news-item regarding air-hostess Komal Singh having faced humiliation in air during flight-number IC-884, being charge-sheeted also for speaking to the media. Supreme Court should sue-motto take note against Management of National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) and Union Civil Aviation Minister for issuing such orders which prohibit staff of national airliner speaking to the media, as it is against freedom of speech also. Anonymous calls and letters from staff-members of Air India after exposure of several misdeeds and scams through RTI petitions, reveal that the company is in losses mainly because of corruption, scams and scandals at highest level including even on ministerial level as alleged by anonymous callers. But no one from staff-members can dare to reveal the factual story out of fear to be sacked.
Only a recent RTI response revealed that CPIO at Air India could not provide even the simple-most information like on pay, perks and facilities available to top-level management of Air India! Even Air India Jitender Bhargav on NDTV spoke a blunt lie about mid-term termination of Carib-jet contract being due to financial-crunch, while documents received under RTI Act clearly reveal that Air India had to suffer a loss of rupees 130 crores only because leased defective planes by Carib Jet company and the faulty legal-agreement had no exit-clause for Air India in case of fault on part of Carib Jet company. A complaint lodged at President’s website numbering PRSEC/E/2009/08145 is yet to be responded by Union Civil Aviation Ministry or NACIL.
Circular or notification banning staff-members of Air India talking to media should be immediately withdrawn, with an impartial judicial commission set to probe charges against top-level management of Air India.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL
(Guinness Record Holder & RTI Activist)
1775 Kucha Lattushah
Dariba, Chandni Chowk
DELHI 110006 (India)
Mobile 9810033711 Fax 23254036
E-mail subhashmadhu@sify.com
Web www.subhashmadhu.com