Ex-ISRO chief given adequate chance to explain: Govt

Government on Thursday said former Indian Space Research Organisation chief G Madhavan Nair was given a "due and adequate chance" by a high-level panel to put forth his views on the action taken against him in connection with irregularities in the Antrix-Devas deal.

A high level team chaired by former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha had provided opportunity for personal hearing to Nair, Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

"Further, the former Chairman of ISRO followed it up with a letter to Chairman HLT, on August 10, 2011," he said.

Besides Sinha, Secretaries of the Departments of Space (K Radhakrishnan), Telecommunication (R Chandrashekhar) and Expenditure (Sumit Bose) were members of the HLT.

The HLT had sought detailed clarifications from all officers who at any point in time had dealt with the files concerning the Antrix-Devas agreement and the decision on the satellites, the minister said.

"Based on the findings of the High Level Team, the former ISRO chairman and three other former scientists (who were already superannuated from service) of the Department of Space have been excluded from re-employment, committee roles or any other important role under the Government and have been divested of any current assignment/consultancy with the government," Narayanasamy said.

"As elaborated above, the former scientists concerned of ISRO have been given due and adequate chance to explain their position by the high level team before taking action," he said.