New Delhi, Dec 25 — The government has reinstated Dr R S Paroda, as Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).

The noted agricultural scientist resumed his twin charge last evening after an official inquiry cleared his name from allegations that he blocked a vigilance inquiry into an ICAR computer deal.

The official inquiry by the Union Agriculture Secretary, Mr Bhaskar Barua, found that Dr Paroda did not play any negative role in blocking the vigilance inquiry.

The inquiry is reported to have established that the allegations against Dr Paroda were levelled by certain ICAR officials.

Dr Paroda, who is also the President of the Indian Science Congress, was divested of his official charge and kept in “compulsory wait” since the past one month. The step was taken to facilitate an investigation into allegations of irregularities in an ICAR computer purchase deal under the World Bank-aided National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP).

An internal audit report of the ICAR had alleged irregular purchase deals. The audit report alleged that there was lack of cooperation on the part of the ICAR officials concerned during preliminary inquiry into computer procurement besides tampering with document.

The audit had also pointed out irregularities in hiring of consultants, construction of a bungalow for the ICAR chief, amendment of technical services rules, violation of rules and procedures to benefit some staff and other lapses.

The details of the audit report were made available selectively at a time when the agricultural scientific community had taken a strong objection to the removal of Dr Paroda from the twin posts.

The Padma Bhushan recipient is an eminent agricultural scientist and his removal without seeking any explanation had hurt the scientist community. The Central Joint Staff Council of the ICAR had also criticised the government decision as insulting a devoted scientist while a section of scientists said it was a ploy by the IAS lobby to retain control over the top administrative post in the DARE.

Dr R.S.Paroda’s removal had invoked wide condemnation from the scientific community, led by Dr M.S.Swaminathan. The brainchild behind India’s Green Revolution said the country’s topmost official in the research and administrative wings of agriculture was no ordinary person and the government should have sought an explanation from him or held a proper inquiry.

The government on November 16 had removed Dr Paroda from the twin posts alleging he was not cooperating in the probe ordered on a computer deal struck by the organisations he headed. Dr Paroda had denied the allegations saying the government had not approached him for any clarifications on the deal.

Even a person working in the government’s lowest post of a peon could not be removed without being chargesheeted and seeking an explanation, Dr Swaminathan said. The Padma Bhushan recipient was relieved without observing the accepted procedures in the government.