New Delhi: A senior diplomat on Wednesday alleged gender bias in the External Affairs Ministry, claiming that had it not been so, there was no reason why she should have been ignored for the post of Foreign Secretary.
Senior diplomat Veena Sikri, a 1971 batch IFS officer, said she has moved the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), seeking access to files pertaining to appointment of Shivshankar Menon as Foreign Secretary under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
She alleged that as many as 16 officers were superseded in choosing Menon as the Foreign Secretary.
"I have made a final application to CIC Wajahat Habibullah, wanting to know on what grounds Menon, a 1972 batch officer, was appointed as Foreign Secretary, ignoring officers who were senior to him, including me."
"There are some objective, well-established criteria for the selection of Foreign Secretary. I deserve to know why I don't fit the bill," PTI quoted Sikri as saying.
Sikri, who had been posted as India's High Commissioner in Dhaka, returned to Delhi in November last year in protest against Menon's appointment.
Asked about her future plans, Sikri said she was awaiting a reply from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
She said she has sought information such as the rules and principles followed by the government in the selection of Foreign Secretary, what was the process for the final selection of Menon for the post, the panels of officers drawn up for the position and the reasons why certain officers were superseded in the appointment.
"I have sought access to files that have to do with the appointment," she said.
"I feel there is a gender bias against me. Otherwise, there is no reason why I should have been ignored for the post. I have the necessary experience and a good record. And I have two years of service left," Sikri said.
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