Conflict of interest: NHAI stipulates rules for officials

14 May 2024 CW Team

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has stipulated that officials require prior permission for other employment during the cooling off period. This is done to address conflict of interest arising out of joining private highway builders and consultants sometimes less than a year after retirement. Most NHAI officials were not under the norms, which were already made for Central Service Group A officers. By bringing this rule, it has been applied to NHAI officials as well.

NHAI indicated that it had been decided to adopt Rule 9 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 2021 in order to protect the interests of NHAI/Government. The official stated that this rule pertained to matters of 'commercial employment after retirement' concerning NHAI officers and employees.

It was also mentioned that employees would be required to provide an undertaking stating that the proposed employment would not involve any conflict of interest with NHAI policies that they had been involved with in the past three years. The undertaking would also include a provision that the commercial employment could be revoked if the government raised any objections.

Employees are required by the notification to provide information on the commercial organisation, the nature of the entity's activity, and if the officer has had any dealings with the firm in the last three years. They must also disclose the length and kind of their official relationship with the company, as well as whether or not the position was advertised. The officials must present their professional credentials for the position in the business organisation as well as the details of the upcoming position.

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