Kissa Missing Coal File Ka

"How asking tough questions over scams becomes National shame? I think only masters, expert in applying butter at wrong end, over zealous, over talkative, infected by verbal diarrhea, can answer it."

Case of missing coal scam related has rocked the Nation, media, general public & both Institutions of democracy. The Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha were made non functional by opposition parties mainly by BJP on whose complain CBI was forced to start investigation under supervision of The Honorable Court. The ruling party Congress, Not UPA-II, named this loss of hour in parliament as National shame. How asking tough question over scams becomes National shame is a mystery which only masters, expert  in applying butter at wrong end, over zealous, over talkative, infected by verbal diarrhea, can answer. However, in status report to the court, CBI stated that it had not been handed over some 250+ odd files related to coal-scam by Coal Ministry inspite of 1 year since first FIR was files in this case. 

This status report added fuel in already burning fire. The opposition, again read BJP as main party, raised hue-n-cry over missing files & demanded Prime Minister Sh. Man Mohan Singh, who was Coal-Minister too & it is alleged that coal scam happened during his stint as coal-minister, to issue statement in both houses of parliament. Sensing the grand kill, opposition parties were not ready to listen anyone less than PM whom ruling party never wanted to field the "Most Honest Prime Minister" India ever had. I don't know what they mean by "Most Honest Prime Minister". Does it implies that other PM s including Congress party PM like Nehruji, Indira Gandhi & Rajiv Gandhi, were not "Honest PM"? You may ask why I have left names of Lal Bahadur Shastri & PV Narsingha Rao's names? I left their name because Congress hardly recognizes them as their Party's PM.

To ward off this sheathing attack, ruling party devised a new but evil analogy of missing files just to fool Nation as general & embarrass BJP & its partners in NDA in particular. 

They categorized all missing files into two parts :

1. 150+ Files related to period from 1991 to 2004: they very conveniently forget that this period too can be divided in to two part i.e.  1991-1998 when there was Congress government or  Congress supporter government at the centre. 
2. Rest Files from 2004 till the cases are under investigation.

What so ever be the case, it is duty of current government to keep files safe as maintenance of file is duty of bureaucracy which is a permanent cadre unlike governments which changes from time to time. It is just impossible that NDA took away all Coal related file along with them after they lost 2004 elections. It is not done Boss.

I remained part of government bureaucracy for 39 years. So I know by heart that government filing system is foolproof. Every Unit officer, lowest to highest, maintains files & keep records of its movement. Every File has two part. A) Numbered like 1/N..x/N Note Sheets, which is tagged at the left side of the file & on which all proposal, observations, recommendations & approvals are done by different level of authorities. B) At right hand side all other papers related to circulars, proposals, applications, requested & final orders are numbered are tagged & numbered like 1/C..x/C. Every paper on right side of file is noted on Note sheet. It movement is maintained at a register which is kept with Dak Receipt Clark. So if any file goes missing, it can be easily traced out at which end it was last seen. Mind you, a higher officer never becomes a party in "File Missing Case". If he has intention to do so, he will adopt some other method like "Lost in transit". But then again you can't imagine a truck load files goes on missing in "Transit". No? 

There are some other provision too in case of lost/missing file. If somehow or other, any file goes missing, a "Kw" file is created immediately & a "Search Memo" is circulated to all sections & departments with request to search file in their section, if found, return to Memo issuing authority & if not found there & if they have any paper related to this file, an "Authenticated Copy"(Attested photocopy) of those papers may be sent immediately. All offices are bound to take action over "Search Memo" & reply even if the Missing File is not pertained to their section or they have no paper related to this "Missing File". Now, in light of above narrations, it is just nearly impossible to miss a file what to say of 250+ files.

Let me tell you my observation, this is not case of missing files. This is case of "Criminal Conspiracy" to provide time to correct mistakes in the files & other related matters. Once the required corrections are made, Files will appear. I may be wrong too though hopefully I am not.

While CBI & Coal-Ministry & Government defenders were busy to defending in attacking mode, believing attack is the best defence, they forget one thing very important. This is such a fact which will puncture their all claims. Only a year & half or so, the Great Coal-Ministry provided photocopies of all files to CAG for its study & scrutiny. Again a Government rule :: All photocopies of files or papers when sent to other department are "Authenticated" or in simple word "Attested" by the concerned unit officer. So if CBI which is claimed to be free from Government pressure & working independently, why it has not taken copies of these photocopies of files from CAG & completed its investigation? Again the same observation, this is not case of missing files. This is case of "Criminal Conspiracy" to provide time to correct mistakes in the files & other related matters. Once the required corrections are made, Files will appear.

Will CBI dare to tke copies of the files from CAG & investigate fairly? Will Government dare to see beyond Party line? Will our "Most Honest PM" keep India first? Will these Arm-Chair-Expert leaders go beyond "Zero Loss"? These are few questions which general public is asking now. If not answered satisfactorily, Public is bound to announce its Charge-Sheet & punishment in up coming elections.

Jai Hind

Pradeep Shanker

(NGO Reporter)