Twenty one senior officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), are in the dock for violating government rules and regulations and will face serious disciplinary proceedings.

The charges against the 13 new officers who have been recommended for punishment are the same as brought against eight others who were named previously. The charge was abuse of position to favour airlines that they were supposed to regulate and to promote the interests of their kin as per a report in ET.

These senior DGCA officials are facing serious action including possible dismissal from service, underlining the rot runs deep in the regulator tasked to ensure the safety of millions of travellers. Also a majority of the eight officials, against whom CVC has recommended 'major penalty', have more charges pending against them.

Major penalty could mean dismissal from government or removal from service or cumulative stoppage of increments.

A senior CVC official who dealt with the cases told TOI, "It is a complete breakdown of the regulatory mechanism", sadly adding that standards for safe air travel have been compromised.

Among the 13 DGCA officials likely to face disciplinary action are two joint DGs—A K Saran, who is already under suspension, and J S Rawat, against whom minor penalty proceedings have been recommended by DGCA.

Saran was suspended for allegedly favouring flying schools by letting them get away by paying amounts lower than what they were supposed as fee to Airports Authority of India ( AAI). He is facing 'major penalty' for the help that his daughter Rashmi received for clearing DGCA exam, as well as for favouring a specific flying school.

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