Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 25: A show-cause notice has been issued against a senior official of the government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for issuing an “official order” to its staff members in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for making elaborate arrangements for his visit to the holy city along with his family, which the union minister said was “unacceptable.”
The Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday slammed the “absurd and shocking” demands and arrangements linked to the senior BSNL director Vivek Banzal’s order for his proposed two-day visit to Prayagraj from Wednesday and ordered action against the official.
Mr Scindia took strong objection to the BSNL official’s lavish and detailed itinerary for the two-day trip and said a show-cause notice has been issued to him, with a seven-day response time. “I have made it very clear that this is improper and a violation of established rules and traditions. It is unacceptable to me. It is shocking,” Scindia said, as quoted by news agency ANI, adding that appropriate action will be taken in this regard.
Mr Banzal’s Prayagraj trip was called off after his “official order” with the elaborate itinerary details —reportedly involving nearly 50 officials and detailing arrangements down to personal items—drew widespread criticism and ridicule on social media.
The Minister’s comments assume significance as controversy erupted after details of extensive hospitality arrangements for Mr Banzal’s official visit surfaced online, including requests for personal care items such as soaps, combs, shampoos and other toiletries. The document (office order) triggered outrage over perceived entitlement and raised questions about the misuse of public resources.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Scindia said the episode was “unacceptable” and one that “flouts all rules and traditions.” “An order like this is unacceptable in new India,” Scindia said, adding that a show-cause notice had been issued. Scindia termed it “beyond absurd” and “shocking.”
According to the order, details of which went viral on social media, the proposed two-day visit of Vivek Banzal, director (CFA) of the BSNL Board, around 20 tasks were assigned to nearly 50 officials. On his arrival in Prayagraj, bathing in Sangam, a boat ride, and visits to Bade Hanuman Mandir, Akshayavat and Patalpuri temples were planned. The ‘snan’ kits consisted of a towel, undergarment, slippers (mentioned as sleeper in the office order), comb, mirror and an oil bottle.
The office order also mentioned that six male kits (consisting of towel, underwear, mirror, comb, soap, shampoo, oil) and two female kits should be arranged. An instruction was also issued to arrange one bed sheet for general use at the ghat. At the hotel and Circuit House, dry fruit bowl, fruit bowl, saving kit (shaving kit), towel, toothpaste, brush, soap, shampoo, comb and oil were to be arranged, the order said.
The trip was cancelled a day before schedule and BSNL also reacted to the controversy, saying that the incident was not in line with its professional standards and values. “Appropriate action has been taken against the concerned. Further instructions have been issued reiterating strict adherence to extant guidelines. BSNL employees are reminded to comply fully with prescribed conduct rules and instructions in this regard,” a part of BSNL’s statement read.
It said, the “BSNL has standing instructions in place regarding the manner in which official visits are to be handled. An instance of non-adherence to the same has been taken note of. The instance noted is not in conformity with the professional standards and values of BSNL.
According to the BSNL website, Banzal is an Indian Telecommunication Service officer of the 1987 batch. He has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics, a Master of Engineering in Computer Science, and an MBA. He has more than 34 years of experience handling telecom network in India.