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Jethmalani confirms he wrote to PM about conduct of some officials

Union Urban Affairs and Employment Minister Ram Jethmalani today confirmed that he had written to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the conduct of some bureaucrats in the matter of the Central Vigilance Commission ordinance but regretted that ''someone leaked it to the press''.

In a statement in New Delhi, he said, ''My complaint in the letter against some does not detract from my recognition of the worth and near indispensability of others. Unfortunately, the acts of a few spoil the image of the whole class. So I wish to set the record straight and put matters in perspective.''

Jethmalani elaborated that the ordinance in its present form was not the last word. Every criticism appearing in every quarter and the prestigious views of the Law Commission would be respectfully considered while converting the ordinance into an act. The other version could not be promulgated without a proper Cabinet examination and approval, for which there was no time available.

The minister, who is a noted lawyer, said the Supreme Court had prescribed in the Vineet Narain judgment that the enforcement director should be of the level of at least an additional secretary. M K Bezbaruah, who was until recently the enforcement director, did not have this qualification which had since become a statutory requirement.

''It is wholly false that he (Bezbaruah) was removed either to punish him or disable him for doing his duties. A suitable spot was formed for him in the Delhi government. No slur on his character or efficiency was at all intended,'' Jethmalani added.

UNI

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