Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh had first wanted Mr Bhushan, a Kerala-cadre IAS officer of the 1979 batch, to be replaced as DGCA a few months ago.
Mr Bhushan will now continue to occupy the post of additional secretary and financial adviser in the ministry, at least for the time being. Mr Bhushan, during his tenure as DGCA, had made several important recommendations, including one a few months ago that a case existed for withdrawing the operating licence of the ailing Kingfisher Airlines amid the possibility that the DGCA could once again recommend it. He had also conducted a safety audit of all airlines and had acted tough with safety violations. It was during his tenure that the fake pilot scam was detected. He also conducted an audit of flying clubs and suspended the licences of a few for alleged irregularities. He overhauled the pilot examination system as well. Mr Bhushan also wanted airlines to pay employees their pending dues in cases where this had not been done.
He was also constantly monitoring the air-worthiness of aircraft used in the sector and was keeping a constant eye on ageing aircraft.
After being served the orders for his removal on Tuesday evening, he relinquished his additional charge after exchanging pleasantries with his successor. Soon after his removal, Mr Bhushan is understood to have said that as a government officer, he would serve the government in whatever capacity it deemed fit.
Exactly a week ago, on July 3, the ACC had approved the extension of Mr Bhushan for holding additional charge of the post of DGCA for one year with effect from December 1 last year which meant that Mr Bhushan was to continue to hold additional charge as DGCA till November 30 this year or till a regular appointment was made. Incidentally, the ACC had also raised concern on why no regular appointment to the post of DGCA had been made for a significant period of time and had issued directions “that this post should be filled up (on a regular appointment) without loss of any further time”.
Sources said that Mr Sukul is likely to head the DGCA for a few months as an additional charge, even as the civil aviation ministry is likely to suggest the name of an IAS officer, Arun Mishra, as a regular appointment to the post.