Thiruvananthapuram: The Prime Minister's Office has sought a report from chief secretary S.M. Vijayanand on the allegation that a junior engineer at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), an arm of ISRO, has been functioning as a union leader violating norms. The ISRO rules bar officers of certain grades, including junior engineer, from being office-bearers of trade unions.
It is understood that the chief secretary has forwarded the letter from the PMO to VSSC director asking for the details of the allegation that junior engineer B. Rajeev Kurup has been functioning as president of the VSSC Employees Union, which has links with the Congress. The director has since forwarded the letter to the VSSC administrative (vigilance) officer. The chief secretary had given VSSC a month, which ended on February 9, to reply.
A VSSC official said on condition of anonymity that the organisation will seek more time to file a reply.
A section of VSSC officials pointed out that only those employees who come under category 'C' and who draw a grade pay up to Rs 4,600 can be holding active positions in trade unions but Mr Kurup has a grade pay of Rs 7,800. Mr. Kurup is working as junior engineer under mechanical integration and systems division at the Valiyamala unit of VSSC.
"Mr. Kurup has been violating the rules," an official said. "He has no right to hold such a post. Moreover, he has been using the position for not performing his responsibilities as he is busy rubbing shoulders with the VSSC top brass."
However, Mr. Kurup denied the allegations and told DC that he has been an employee of VSSC for the last 37 years and never had got a memo or a punishment. "Some people in the union are behind these allegations. In fact I had stepped down from the post almost two-and-a-half years ago. But I have been attending the union meetings as a former member."
