Punishing Officials For Honest Mistakes Can Lower Morale: Nitin Gadkari

Two days after former coal secretary HC Gupta was convicted in a coal scam case, Union minister Nitin Gadkari today sounded a warning, saying punishing bureaucrats unless they have deliberately done wrong, will have a demoralising effect. If honest officials are "punished on mere technical grounds and not corruption then they will be demoralised, decisions will not be taken. This not in the nation's interest," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview. "I believe if mistakes are bona fide then forgive and forget but if mistakes are mala fide then don't spare him," he added.