The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Friday pulled up the Indian Air Force (IAF) for delays in finalising accident inquiries, that in turn have resulted in delays in providing relief to the families of accident victims.

The CAF report, that was tabled in Parliament, also pulled up the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for delays in supplying Sukhoi fighter jets to the IAF between 2005 to 2012.

Citing a total of 42 accidents in the IAF involving fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters, the CAG report has says that the “delays in finalisation of Courts of Inquiry (CoIs) ranging from one to more than 24 months has resulted in delays in granting relief to the families of IAF personnel who had lost their lives in accidents”.

According to the report, the delays in CoIs not only resulted in non implementation of remedial measures to avoid the recurrence of flying accidents, but also resulted in an accumulation of statements of loss — 378 statements of loss awaited regularisation as of June 2013 — thus causing a loss of Rs 1,421.14 crore to the exchequer.

The finalisation of CoIs with respect of flying accidents should not take more than 9 months from the date of its constitution. Remedial measures should be implemented and loss statements should be regularised within 12 months and 15 months respectively from the date of constitution of the CoIs. The report has also blamed inadequate training, lack of infrastructure and ageing aircraft for the reasons behind the accidents.

Besides, the report has blamed HAL for “depriving IAF of the full quota of flying hours” and accused it of “non-compliance with standards of preparation and foolproof quality” in the delivery of Sukhoi fighter jets.

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