Question : AIRLIFT CHARGES TOWARDS FORMER MINISTER



(a) whether the Government of Kerala has since reviewed its stand to clear the amount of Rs. 14.45 lakhs towards hire charges of the then Union Minister who chartered a plane of Defence Ministry on March 24, 1995 to go to Thiruvananthapuram from New Delhi;

(b) if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the manner in which the payment is proposed to be recovered;

(d) whether the Union Government have to recover any dues of such type from others; and

(e) whether the Union Government propose to consider to collect the hire charges in advance before chartering the Defence Aircraft in future?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF DEFENCE ( SHRI JASWANT SINGH )


(a) to (c) No, Sir. Government of Kerala has been requested to clear the outstanding amount of Rs. 14.69 crores by end of April, 2001. If they fail to respond in a positive manner, the Ministry shall be constrained to take appropriate action, as per legal advice.


(d) & (e) No, Sir.