Summary of the Press Note

Murder of Shri S.K. Dubey, Dy. General Manager, NHAI, Gaya; Response from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

Shri S.K. Dubey, Dy. General Manager (Technical), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), posted at Gaya, was murdered in the early hours of 27 November, 2003. A series of articles and news items have appeared on this unfortunate incident. These have understandably created a sense of shock and an outpouring of sympathy for Shri Dubey.

However, a section of the media, without highlighting all the relevant facts of the matter, has drawn misleading inferences on the cause of Shri Dubey’s murder. Its coverage has also sought to project the functioning of the NHAI and the Government in a negative light, showing them to be insensitive and callous about the safety of the personnel working on the National Highway Development Project (NHDP), which is India’s proud infrastructure project.

The main thrust of this coverage has been that Shri Dubey was murdered because the office of the Prime Minister, to whom he had addressed a letter in November 2002, alleging systemic deficiencies in the execution of the NHDP and corrupt practices of contractors as well as officials in NHAI, breached the confidentiality of that letter in spite of his request that secrecy be maintained about his identity. To substantiate this inference, it has been reported that the letter was sent in a routine manner by the PMO to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and onward to NHAI. This grave insinuation is as untenable as it is unfair. The PMO and the MORTH categorically deny that Shri Dubey’s identity was disclosed by them or that his murder was linked to the letter he wrote to the PM.

The letter received by the PMO November 11, 2002 was unsigned and undated. The sheet enclosed the letter giving Shri Dubey’s name and particulars was also unsigned. The PMO receives many anonymous or improperly identified letters alleging irregularities and corruption. It has no way of knowing the genuineness of these letters, nor is its function to take action on their specific contents. The latter is the responsibility of the concerned administrative ministry. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has instructed all government departments that anonymous or improperly identified letters should not be acted upon.

However, since Shri Dubey’s letter carried an annexure that gave his name and address, and contained seemingly important observations on the implementation of NHDP, the PMO forwarded it to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for appropriate action. Shri Dubey himself had said in the concluding para of his letter that ~if any elaboration/clarification is needed on above issues I would be glad to render all my assistance in the interest of this very prestigious National Highway Development Project.~

Shri Dubey, in his letter to the Manager (Vigilance), NHAI, dated February 2, 2003, had also said, ~The letter intended to be addressed to the Chairman, NHAI with only a copy endorsed to the office of the PMO was inadvertently addressed to the PMO. The letter was also addressed and sent to Chairman, NHAI.~ This clearly shows that Shri Dubey had already, on his own, disclosed his identity to the head of his own organization. Hence, the accusation that the PMO ~disclosed~ Shri Dubey’s identity by passing on his letter to MoRTH is both bizarre and false.

The section of the media that has made this accusation has failed to take note of the important fact that Shri Dubey wrote several letters to local officers of NHAI. While his letter to the Prime Minister had raised mainly general issues about perceived procedural shortcomings in the implementation of NHDP, his local communications were very specific. These communications were not marked secret. Therefore, it is not proper to link Shri Dubey’s murder to the letter he addressed to the Prime Minister more than a year earlier.

Shri Dubey was not penalized for writing directly to the Prime Minister. On the contrary, on 31 October 2003, he was promoted to the post of Dy. General Manager in NHAI in recognition of his professional competence and his courageous, conscientious and persistent efforts to improve the implementation of the work on NHDP at his level. Suitable corrective action was taken on several points contained in his communications. This shows how NHAI was – and continues to be -- appreciative of an honest and committed officer like Shri Dubey. NHAI has also taken several proactive measures to improve the implementation of NHDP.

It is a matter of record that personnel employed in implementation of the NHDP in Bihar have been under constant threat. Between March 2002 and November 2003, the Minister of Road Transport & Highways has written as many as five letters to the Chief Minister of Bihar expressing concern over the law and order problems in the State. In his first letter dated 15 March, 2002 – that is, well before Shri Dubey’s letter to the Honourable PM, the Minister had pointed out to the CM of Bihar that the people working on NHDP ~are getting repeated threats and warnings of dire consequences. This has caused an atmosphere of fear and terror and is coming in the way of progress of the work.~

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, as well as the NHAI, reiterate their commitment to speedy implementation of the NHDP, without any compromise on the quality of construction, and help realize the collective dream of all Indians. In this, we appeal to State Governments to ensure proper security for the project personnel.