What people say about us !

How many correspondents you have in the country ?

N V Shetty

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Contact-sureshmehrotra@yahoo.com

Ms Sohoni to be Secretary Agriculture ?
Ms Charusheela Sohoni is likely to be appointed new Secretary Agriculture in the Government of India. She is 1971 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

Anil Jain is Joint Secretary Petroleum
Anil Jain has been appointed Joint Secretary Petroleum in the Government of India. He is 1986 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.
( We said this on October 18 )

Krishnan is Advisor to IMF ED
S Krishnan has been appointed Advisor to the Executive Director of IMF.1989 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, Krishnan, is presently PS to Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
( We said this on August 14 )

Brig Kumar posted in MEA
Brig Girish Kumar has been posted in MEA as Director (Boundary Cell). This is the second army personnel in MEA after one Brigadier was posted in the Disarmament Division.

Raghavan to be posted in Singapore
Raghavan,1990 batch IRS (CE&C) officer, is being posted in Singapore. Formal orders are expected next month.

Who will be new PS to Shinde ?
Manoj Sounik, PS to Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, has been empanelled to the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government of India. Now search is on for the successor of 1987 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

Cong to promote new Muslim leader
Congress these days is learnt to be in a mood to promote a new Muslim leader. The party is thinking to give more weightage to a new face rather than the established ones.

Is Ambikaji aware ?
The Vatsalya Mela of Ministry of Women & Child Development Department
is being organised through ITDC's Division headed by M S Manchanda, the very same official who was made adhoc CMD of ITDC for almost a year by Renuka Choudhry.Is Tourism Minister Ambika Soni aware ?.

BSF IG suepended
IG of the Border Security Force (BSF) North Bengal Frontier S R Tiwari has reportedly been suspended. He is 1982 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Pathak repatriated
Deputy Director in the LBSNAA, K K Pathak, has been repatriated to the parent Bihar cadre. He is 1990 batch IAS officer.

Agrawal is Director Forests
Satish Kumar Agrawal has joined the Ministry of Environment and Forests as Director. He is 1988 batch IRS (C & CE) officer.

Yadav and Chauhan to be HC Judges
Sanjay Singh Yadav and K S Chauhan are likely to be appointed Judges of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

M-governance may see light of day soon
Want to know the latest weather report or vegetable prices, or book a railway ticket? Well, all you may need to do is send an SMS. With over 130 million mobile subscribers in the country, governance initiatives through mobiles - M-governance, which is already practised in many countries - may soon see the light of day in India. "Farmers can send an SMS to the tehsil and get agriculture-related information like prices of crops, fertilisers and weather reports," .

IAS changes in Haryana
H.C. Disodia will be new Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Forest . Sarban Singh has been posted as Commissioner and Secretary in the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department. Ms Manju Gupta will now be Secretary, Printing and Stationery Department. Vijay Vardhan has been appointed MD of Haryana Agro Industries Corporation. Ms Satwanti Ahlawat has been posted as Managing Director, Haryana Tourism Corporation.

IAS reshuffle in Manipur
There is IAS reshuffle in Manipur.Additional charge of GAD has been given to D V Singh.H Imocha Singh will look after the charge of Transport.A R Khan has been made Secretary Labour.

Jhingran is GM W Railways
A K Jhingran will be new General Manager of the Western Railways. He is 1971 batch officer.

Justice Shah to be Judge of Supreme Court !
Grapevine has it that Chief Justice of Madras High Court Justice A P Shah is being appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Justice Sirpurkar to be Judge of Supreme Court !
There is a buzz that Chief Justice of Uttaranchal High Court Justice V S Sirpurkar is being appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

FORUM

ISS Association's point of view

This news item quoted as "326% increase in JS level posts in ISS" on your website is totally misleading and does not reflect the true facts. You must be aware that as per the DOPT guidelines, an officer selected through UPSC through Competition Examination at all-India basis should aspire to become JS after 17 years as it is happening in IAS, IPS, IFS, IA&AS etc. But I would like to state for your kind information, that even with promotions as a result of this cadre review, the officers, who have got promotions to SAG level, have put in 25-26 years of service.

2. Further, as per the norms recommended by the Fifth Central Pay Commission that there should be 17% of SAG level posts besides 3% in HAG and above. Following this norm, there should be about 136 SAG level posts besides about 24 posts in HAG and above in ISS, which has a cadre strength of 799 officers. The 81 SAG level posts + 12 posts (HAG+) achieved with this cadre review are falling much short of the required number of posts in SAG and HAG+ levels as indicated above.

3. For all sincerity, it would been better for you to give actual figures of Income Tax and Excise Custom Service Officers at SAG levels before and after the cadre review. You must, however, know that the officers of 1986 batch in these two services have been promoted to SAG levels, whereas in the Indian Statistical Service Officers, it is only up to 1981 batch officers, who have been recently promoted to SAG vide order dated 2nd November, 2006. This is the factual comparative position, which should have been highlighted.

4. As regard functional justification for SAG officers of ISS in the field, it is for your kind information that these SAG level officers are also to function as representatives of National Statistical Commission so as to guide and enhance the quality of statistics and as also to inspire the State Statistical functionaries for achieving higher degree of accuracy and desired improvements in all spheres of statistics, which is being generated by States. Due to financial constraints, it is not possible to create separate infrastructure for liaison with State functionaries, so these officers have been accommodated in the zonal / regional set up available with NSSO. So you should appreciate that the role of ISS officers represented through NSSO (FOD) can not be achieved through AD level officers as they have to liaise with State Statistical functionaries, which are generally of JAG / SAG levels or even higher levels.

5. In view of the position explained above, I once again request you to carry out such stories after proper examination of facts and figures in each case. Further, I request you kindly ensure that your portal is not used for damaging the reputation of a 'Service' or 'Ministry'. I am sure you will take care to avoid such unfounded reporting in future.

(Harcharan Singh)
President
Indian Statistical Service Association

Sixth Pay Commission and your website
The views expressed are interesting and I generally agree with them though I am myself from 1964 IAS Cadre! However if the persons expressing such views like they now have a forum as Sixth Pay commission has sought views on a variety of issues!
This website can have a catalytic role and send such views in a consolidated form to the Commission which would be of great use considering its wide readership in the target groups of the Commission! Wish you and Commission all success in restructuring the entire administrative structure to meet modern requirements after globalization and rapid technology driven advances! The old structure needs revolutionary changes and simple tinkering with some aspects will not suffice! A holistic view needs to be taken and the Commission appears to be the right forum to discharge this considering its terms of Reference and approach as shown by its questionnaire!

H G Obhrai

Details should be made public

The nugget of information by Sh. A.K Singh was great indded. However, can any other reader ( or Mr. Singh) elaborate further on the subject. I do not foresee any harm if the name of the person and other details are also made public.

P.K.Saha

MURDER BY MOTOR
On Sunday morning in Mumbai, a speeding car full of partying collegians who had too much drink mowed down sleeping labourers and their families and killed 7 persons. After that many people raised issue of liability of labourers who were sleeping in pavement.
Whispers is widely read by decision makers of country and by this mail want to address raise certain constitutional & legal points which may not look relevant in this era of SEZ and global economy but still they are part of Constitution. Those youngsters who have got all the comforts of life without any efforts want to legalize their actions but those labourers who have done hard work for the society even don't have the right to sleep also. Constitution gives right to life but who has given these persons right to take life and then justify without having any guilt. So issue is not of some individuals or of this incidence but whether rights will be decided by wealth or constitution. If these clauses have become redundant then what will happen to Bapu's antim aadmi or Shastriji's Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.
Let us first take the rights of victims. Fundamental Rights are listed in Part III of the Constitution, and consist mainly of civil and political rights. The fundamental Right to Life is guaranteed under Article 21 states that "No person shall be deprived of his life or except according to the procedure established by law".
Supreme Court in a landmark judgment (Francis Coralie vs. The Administrator, Union Territory of Delhi and others, AIR 1981) observed.
"We think that the Right to Life includes the right to live with human
dignity and all that goes along with it…. The magnitude and content the components of this right would depend upon the extent of development of the country, but it must, in any view of the matter, include the right to the basic necessities of life . This now includes the right to clean and hygienic environment and above all, the right to live with basic dignity."
Supreme Court in another case of Smt. Gian Kaur vs. the State of
Punjab (1996) observed that right to life' including the right to live with human dignity would mean the existence of such a right up to the end of natural life. This also includes the right to a dignified life up to the point of death including a dignified procedure of death.
Justice Chandrachud observed in Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation( 1985) case that the eviction of the pavement or the slum-dweller not only means his removal from the house but the destruction of the house itself. And the destruction of a dwelling house is the end of all that one holds dear in life.'
Directive Principles of State Policy are not enforceable rights, they do provide guiding principles for the working of the Constitution. Art 39 directs state to frame policy so that adequate means of livelihood are secured. It further says that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to sub serve the common good. It further says that workers and are not abused and that citizens are not forced by economic necessity which is unsuitable. Now there is Art 41which speaks about right to work then Art 42 which speaks about just and humane conditions of work.
Now see the obligations of these youngsters who had killed 7 persons. They can not give life but have right to take life and still no guilt for their acts. Art 51 A relating to fundamental duties of the constitution makes it obligatory and duty of every citizen to safeguard public property and to adjure violence. It further says to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavor and achievement.
Now finally obligation of the State in this case. As per article 47 of the constitution where State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties an, in particular, the State shall endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which injurious to health.
In view of above provisions it is clear that State is totally indifferent in safeguarding the interest of the common people as per mandate of Constitution. Otherwise like cases of Sanjeev Nanda, Salman Khan and Neel Chatterjee accused will be acquitted for lack of evidence and members of under class will be continued to be murdered by high profile socialites.

VIRAG GUPTA
M.A., LL.B.
MUMBAI

TAIL-PIECE

There goes a folklore that in a city school there were three friends in class X. The first one was the most intelligent and studious of the three, second one was a mediocre, and third one was a freelancer and hardly able to pass his examination. But in real life there was role reversal for all the three. The first one qualified the medical entrance exam and went on to become a doctor and employed by a govt hospital. The second one qualified CSE and became health secretary and the third one became a neta and was the health minister.

Contributed by - M Bansal

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Welcome to One for Fun. Today my imaginary guest is the Chief Minister of Punjab Mr. Amrinder Singh. We are at the venue of his just concluded Rally in Ludhiana .

Me: What is your opinion on the turnout ????
Amrinder: Excellent……now I can thumb my nose at Baba ( Baba) and his Baloongda (Sukhbir).

Me: But I understand that the complete Government machinery was put to use to mobilize people for this rally!! Even Dullo has agreed to this in a way!! Taking this into consideration the turnout is just average!!!
Amrinder: See it was my duty to go to the people and tell them what I've done and that is why I undertook the Vikas Rally and it's the people's duty to listen to the CM and that is why government machinery was used to make people fulfil their duty.

Me: In case you had really delivered on your promises you wouldn't have to undertake the Vikas Rally as the Public would have known about your efforts…. as you know eh Public hai eh sabh jaandi hai!!!
Amrinder: Public has two ears….. Badal is filling one ear with anti Amrinder talk and in the other ear I've tried to let them know my side of the story!!

Me: You forget that we have two ears but one brain and you've been filling Punjabis ears with your anti Badal rhetoric for the last four and half years……I'll come to the next question……. I understand that you got four surveys done and in all four Surveys the projection is that Congress is losing!!
Amrinder: I don't believe in surveys……you see we have to oblige all kinds of people and organizations. These surveys were favours doled out to certain people!!

Me: Chalo you did them a favour ….. they've done you a favour by letting you know your factual standing!!!
Amrinder: Like I said I don't believe in these Surveys….. if I wanted to get a Survey done I would have used the Punjab Police…… they are spread out all over Punjab and are in close contact with the people!!

Me: PP can coerce the people to say what you would like to hear….. but getting them to say what they feel is not a job for PP………and in the polling booth PP will be of little help to you……… recently your PP has been showing its brute force…. see how they handled the Veterinary Doctors???
Amrinder: I think you know very little about elections….. on the Veterinary students and Doctors , please note that PP personal on duty were disgusted at the way the students and Doctors were shouting slogans against me…. this was just a spontaneous reaction!!!

Me: You call molesting females as a spontaneous reaction???
Amrinder: No female has registered any complaint!!!

Me: Newspapers carried pictures of the molestation….. couldn't you have taken suo moto notice????
Amrinder: Police held an Inquiry and the policemen on duty came out clean!!!

Me: Another 'kangaroo' Inquiry???? Why couldn't an impartial Inquiry have inquired into this matter??? Kagaroo Inquiry reminds me that even in the Punjab Intranet case you appointed what people call a 'in house' Inquiry!!!!
Amrinder: I follow procedure. Had the departmental inquiry indicted any Police Officer I would have considered further action. My son has been cleared by the Nehra Commission and I have nothing more to say on this!!

Me: But do you realize that the people have not cleared the Nehra Commission….. as can be the seen the means justified how you wanted the Inquiry to end….. next question…….what about the City Centre scandal!!!
Amrinder: The Company has issued full page ads. Taking suo moto notice of the ads I've come to the conclusion that there is no hanky-panky in the City Centre matter!!!

Me: You've literally made a mazaak of suo moto!!!! Its alleged City Centre has caused huge losses to the Punjab Government. They say this is a Rs. 2500 crore scandal!!!
Amrinder: My calculator stops at 1000,000,000….ho ho ho!!!

Me: If your calculator cannot go beyond 1000,000,000 then how did you calculate that Badal syphoned off Rs. 3500 crores……… was this figure a hyped notional figure???
Amrinder: Enough of this …… go to the next question…. the past few days have been really very hard and I'm at my wit's end!!!

Me: People of Punjab are used to Leaders who they can meet and not Leaders who refuse to meet them.
Amrinder: Why do you think I appointed these Parliamentary Secretaries….they were my reps???

Me: But from what is being reported one of the main charges that people have against you is that you did not have the time to meet them and now that the elections are around the corner you are trying to mollify them with this Vikas Yatra!!!
Amrinder: I've been busy serving them and that is why I've not had the time to meet them!!!

Me: For your term they say…….Power mein aaya Amrinder 5 saalon ke liye…… doh badle mein beeth gaye and baaki teen mauj and masti mein!!!
Amrinder: What mauj masti???

Me: Sir like I told you eh joh public hai eh sabh jaandi hai!!
Amrinder: What I do in my free time is my business!!!

Me: I'm sorry the perception is that during the working hours you do mauj and masti and during your free time you sleep!!! Its well known that your day starts at noon and is over by 5 pm!!!
Amrinder: I cannot change my sleeping hours just because I'm the CM!!! And once the Staff have left for their homes why should I keep sitting in Office!!!

Me: Then come at the time they come to Office…. chalo lets go to the next question……. your frequent Dubai visits have raised a lot of eyebrows!!!
Amrinder: I word hard and play hard!!!

Me: But the general feeling is that you work hardly and only play!!!
Amrinder: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy….. see Badal … from 5 am to midnight he slogged and still the people dumped him!!!

Me: No wonders now they realize his accessibility and other plus points!!!
Amrinder: My information sources say something else…. why don't we go to the next question!!

Me: Your info sources say what you like to hear…..your Jeeja Nut has been put in the bin ….. understand that you , Nut and Aiyer have been in touch with each other prior to his binning!!
Amrinder: No no the Press got it wrong….. Nut brought Aiyer to see the rare birds at my Dochi Farm…….we drank, ate and saw the birds!!!

Me: Birds …. very interesting……while I've been with you I've noticed that you've been popping pills!!
Amrinder: Well during the Vikas Yatra I've been running a fever…… my doctor has prescribed these pills and asked me to stay away from crowds!!!

Me: Seems your system is not used to stepping out of your citadel and being with the people……. in ordinary parlance what your Doctor has advised is ' stay away from people'!!!! Bye Amrinder Ji it was nice to have you on One for Fun.

Bharat Kumar

Baweja to be CMD of NHDC !
CGM (Marketing) in the NTC, J K Baweja, is being tipped to be CMD of the National Handloom Development Corporation.

Venkat is Functional Director Air India
S Venkat will be new Functional Director (Finance)of the Air India.

Sardar search for Punjab & Sindh Bank
Finance Ministry is in search of a Sardar chairman for Punjab & Sindh Bank yet again.

Mehta is Britannia's CFO
The Nusli Wadia-managed Britannia Industries is roping in a former Unilever honcho, Durgesh Mehta, as its new chief financial officer.

LIC GROWS 178 per cent
LIC, the country's largest insurer, has consolidated its position by recording 178 per cent increase in premium collection during April-September this fiscal, higher than the life insurance industry growth rate of 162 per cent.

ICICI Executive switching
ICICI Pru and ICICI Bank have been switching senior executives.While Bhargav Dasgupta, head of international at ICICI Bank, has moved to the insurance company as the second executive director, Sandeep Batra, head of HR at ICICI Pru, has been moved to the bank to head international compliance. Due to the Insurance company's expansion a third executive director's position is likely to be created by next year.

CGM SBI asks VRS !
Last fortnight there is high profile exit from the country's largest bank SBI. CGM Ramesh Kumar is reportedly the only one to put in his application under the current ongoing VRS which closed on Oct 31.

Pandey is MD of MSEDC
Dr A B Pandey has taken over as MD of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd.