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INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

The biggest advantage of PLI is that, its low on premiums & high on returns. PLI does not spend much in procurement of business in the form of payment of commission to the agents etc. and in turn pass on the surplus in the form of handsome bonus to the insurants, said Mrs.Anju Dasgupta Member I&FS.
In an interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com> she said "The PLI products are designed in such a way that an employee can pay his premium in monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or in annual installments and get the maturity amount at the end of the term or at the time of his superannuation." Under PLI ,Mrs. Anju Dasgupta said "some rebate is also given for advance payment of premium." Answering another question Mrs.Dasgupta said "RPLI is growing at a rate exceeding 40% in recent years and has created a very good impact on rural population" Moreover she said "not just residents of rural areas but also persons ordinarily resident in a village but temporarily located in an urban area - e.g. labourers and construction workers - or even NRI's abroad - are eligible to take a Rural PLI Risk Coverage upto Rs.3 lakhs is provided under RPLI."

What is Postal Life Insurance (PLI) ?

A-Postal Life Insurance(PLI) is the oldest life insurance scheme in India. This was introduced in the year 1884. PLI is meant for all Central & State Government employees & employees of public sector undertakings,universities, government aided educational institutions, nationalized banks, local self bodies and those who are in the defence services as well as paramilitary forces.Under this the risk coverage is upto Rs.10 lakh .

Is there any advantage in PLI as compared to Life Insurance products of other Life Insurance Service providers in India ?

A-Premiums in PLI schemes are much lower as compared to the premiums charged by other corporations and companies for life coverage. Also the bonus rates are substantially higher in PLI as compared to similar schemes of other Life Insurance Companies. This is possible because operational cost of PLI is much lower and it operates through the infrastructure of nearly 1,56,000 Post Offices spread all over the country. PLI does not spend much in procurement of business in the form of payment of commission to the agents etc. and in turn pass on the surplus in the form of handsome bonus to the insurants.

What are the different products under PLI ?

A-PLI has Endowment Assurance Schemes, Whole Life Assurance Policies, Convertible Whole Life Policies, Anticipated Endowment Assurance Policies, Joint Life Endowment Assurance Policies (Yugal Suraksha) for such couples both of whom are entitled for PLI coverage and Children Policies for such insurants who are already having PLI policies. The PLI products are designed in such a way that an employee can pay his premium in monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or in annual installments and get the maturity amount at the end of the term or at the time of his superannuation. The details of the policies are available on the web site of the Department of Posts: <indiapost.gov.in>

How one pays his premium ? What happens in the case of transfer of an insurant ?

A- Government employees have the option of paying premium by monthly deduction from salary. One can also deposit his premium through any Post Office. Some rebate is also given for advance payment of premium. Payment of premium in PLI schemes is very transparent and convenient. If an insurant is transferred say from one place/State to another, his policy is also transferred to his new place of posting and he can continue to pay his premium in usual way.

What is Rural PLI, in what way is it different from PLI ?

A-Rural PLI was introduced in 1995 as a result of the recommendation of the official committee for reforms in the insurance sector (Malhotra Committee). The prime objective of this scheme is to provide life insurance cover to the rural public in general and to benefit weaker sections and women workers of rural areas in particular and also to spread insurance awareness among the rural population. The schemes under Rural PLI are similar to those under PLI. However, the premium tables and bonus rates are different. RPLI is growing at a rate exceeding 40% in recent years and has created a very good impact on rural population.

Not just residents of rural areas but also persons ordinarily resident in a village but temporarily located in an urban area - e.g. labourers and construction workers - or even NRI's abroad - are eligible to take a Rural PLI Risk Coverage upto Rs.3 lakhs is provided under RPLI.

Strange ways of politics

Strange are the ways of politics. The fortunes of Ambani brothers have undergone a sea change. Anil Ambani has turned into blue eyed boy of Indian Finance Minister P.Chidambaram. Thanks to the new equation, Anil's all projects, are having a smooth sail. On the other hand Mukesh Ambani seems to have fallen out of the grace of Powers that be in the "corridors of power". Not only he has decided to shut down Reliance Fresh in many states, but also postponed his plans to launch a news channel. He is also reported to have got an Income Tax (IT) notice for depositing a total of Rs.1000 crore, as personal IT. Mind you it is for the last financial year, whereas he had paid a personal tax of Rs.50 crore. It may be stated that the Reliance Industries Ltd(RIL) being headed by Anil Ambani pays an annual IT of Rs.2000 crore.

Tripathi to be Vice Chairman DDA ?
If all goes well Praveen K Tripathi will be the new Vice Chairman of the DDA. He is 1977 batch IAS officer of UT cadre. Present Vice Chairman Dinesh Rai is being promoted to the rank of Secretary in a couple of months.

Rajesh Chaturvedi is new JS Textiles
Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi will be new Joint Secretary Textiles in the Government of India.1987 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Chaturvedi is taking over the assignment in a day or two.

Pradip Singh to join IDFC ?
Former 1978 batch IAS officer of Assam Meghalaya .Pradip Singh is reportedly joining IDFC shortly. He is said to have sought premature retirement from ILFS where he had been for the last.15 years. This is going to be second high profile exit from the ILFS.

U K Sinha to continue in UTI
U K Sinha is going to continue in the UTI. He is 1976 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Alok Ranjan gets two year extension
MD of NAFED Alok Ranjan has been granted two year extension in his tenure. He is 1978 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Karnataka cadre IPS to be DGP of Mizoram ?
Grapevine has it that 1977 batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer Lalrokhuma Pachau is going as DGP of Mizoram.

Mukhtyar Singh de-empanelled
Mukhtyar Singh has been de-empanelled .1976 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Mukhtyar Singh had earlier been empanelled to the rank of Additional Secretary in the Government of India.

Ramesh Chander appointed in Edinburgh
Ramesh Chander, Minister, Embassy of India, Prague (Czech Republic) has been appointed the Consul General of India, Edinburgh (Scotland), UK. Chander is an IFS officer of 1984 batch.

CSS officer to be posted in OIPB
A CSS officer is being appointed in the Oil India Promotion Board. Earlier the post was held by an IAS officer.

Ms Rao is PS to MoS HRD
Ms Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao has joined as PS to Union Minister of State HRD .She is 1990 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.

Sanjeev Kumar repatriated
Sanjeev Kumar has been repatriated to his parent cadre of Assam-Meghalaya. Kumar is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1989 batch was so far AIG in the Indian Ministry of Environment & Forests.

Abhisar Sharma joins Aajtak
Abhisar Sharma has quit the NDTV and joined Aajtak as Deputy Editor.
( We said this on September 17)

Who is the premier fund raiser from power sector ?
The fear of early general elections has put the public sector chiefs on alert. Particularly, the sector like power are under focus. Who will meet the fund needs of the ruling UPA alliance? Lot is expected from the power sector. If insiders are to be believed, shortlisting has been done with possible targets for each power utility. Guess which organization is at the top of the list? Certainly not NTPC. The finger is being pointed towards a premier hydro utility which
has very weak top management and which can be easily managed by the political bosses. Time to watch.

Move to give extension to BHEL CMD?
There is a move to give extension to BHEL CMD A K Puri. His term is coming to an end in February. Will it fructify? .

R K Singh joins JP Group
Former Chairman of the Railway Board and former Member of the PESB R K Singh has reportedly joined the JP Group.

Ms. Susan George Dy. Secy Panchayati Raj
Ms.Susan George has been appointed on deputation as Deputy Secretary in Central Government's department of Panchayati Raj. Ms.George who is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 1995 batch was so far Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi.

Two Additional Solicitor Generals soon
The Union government is soon going to appoint two Additional Solicitors-General to deal with direct and indirect taxes.

Maj Gen Paul takes over
Major-Gen P.S Paul has taken over as General Officer Commanding of Panther Division in place of Major-Gen K.M.S Shergill who has relinquished his office.

Nitin Chandra is Director RD in GoI
1990 batch Orissa cadre IAS officer, Niten Chandra, is joining the Government of India on Saturday as Director under Rural Developmenet ministry. He is at present the Special Secretary,
General Administration (AR), Department.

Saran to take charge in Orissa today
The Special Secretary , Health and Family Welfare , Manoranjan Saran, 1988 batch of IAS officer, has been transferred as Special Secretary General Administration and AR. He is expected to assume office on October 8.

Two CITs shifted
As many as two Commissioners of Incomex Tax(CITs) were transferred recently. They are MD Kabra CIT II Delhi to CIT(C ) Delhi & Surbhi Sinha CIT VIII Delhi to CIT ( C) III Delhi. While Kabra is an IRS officer of the 1978 batch, M.Sinha belongs to the 1979 batch.

IAS changes in Uttar Pradesh

A.V. Rajamauli has been appointed Jyotibaphule Nagar DM.Shravan Kumar Verma will now be the new DM of Gautambudh Nagar. Dinesh Chandra Shukla has been made Mainpuri District Magistrate.

RAW official recalled

1975 batch RAW official Ravi Nair posted in SriLanka has been recalled.

Justice Agrawal appointed Chairman in Punjab
Former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice S.N. Aggarwal, has been appointed chairman of the Punjab State Consumers Disputes Redressal Commission.

Orissa has no RC in Delhi
Post of Resident Commissioner of Orissa in Delhi has been lying vacant for the last two months.

Metro Rail for Ludhiana
The Punjab Government being led by Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal is going to provide Metro Rail in Ludhiana.An MOU between Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Punjab is to be Signed in Chandigarh tomorrow.

FORUM

I.A.S ---- INORDINATE- ATROPHIED- SUPINE
Praised or patted, maligned or mauled, easily the Indian Administrative service is the most talked about service in the country.
But unfortunately most of this talk is ill informed; whether it is by journalists, intellectuals, politicians or even the bureaucrats.
It has become the handiest whipping boy of politicians and the press. Politicians whipping the service is understandable because both share the same power cake. But criticism from the press is not quite understandable because on one hand they have been portraying the bureaucrats as pawns in the hands of the political masters and on the other hand expect the 'servants' to rebel against and control their 'masters'.
But the real question that is lost in this whole maze is that, is the relationship between the bureaucrats and the political executive really that of a 'master' and 'servant'? Unfortunately a vast cross section of Indian society, particularly the intellectuals perceive the answer in the affirmative. This perception is equally shared by a section of judiciary and most unfortunately even by an overwhelmingly large section of the bureaucracy itself.
The whole question of relationship between the political executive and the bureaucracy and the quantum and nature of independence of the bureaucracy in giving a free and fair advice to the bosses, finally boils down to the exercise of the power of their transfer and postings. A large section of people think that the ultimate authority of transfer and posting of the IAS officers vests with the political executive and the bureaucrats have to jolly well obey it, howsoever arbitrary it may be and that transfer and posting of officers is the prerogative and pleasure of the government and they can post any officer to any post and they have no option but to accept it gracefully and keep on begging, beseeching or bribing the powers that be to change their posting. Unfortunately, most of the IAS officers also do not think differently.
I have heard judges and bureaucrats sharing the view that the officers cannot choose their postings.
I don't know as to how this whole perception of the relationship between bureaucrats and political masters as being that of master and servant grew.
However the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in the case of Manhas Vs. District Development commissioner, had this to say in this regard: " The rights and liabilities of the civil servants are admittedly distinct than the rights and liabilities of an ordinary employer and employee. The rights of the civil servants in this country are guaranteed by the Constitution, Civil Rules and the Service conditions …………… The general law of Master and Servant earlier conventionally recorded as part of the law relating to the civil servants as well, does not hold good in a democratic set up. Civil Servants in a democratic set up cannot be equated with slaves. ………………………In any democratic set up the Ministers and the political party which they represent, are essentially birds of passage, they come and go according to the will of the people. What remains permanently attached to the institution of the administration and the machinery of the Government is the public servant. Unless such machinery is in a reasonably good working order and not influenced or lured, pressurized or tempted for extraneous considerations, the administration will go to rack and ruin."
The Supreme Court in case of O.P. Bhandari vs. Indian Tourism Development Corporation and others, had to say this in this regard: "The services of an employee can be terminated even though there is no rational ground for doing so, even arbitrarily or capriciously. To uphold this right is to accord a "magna carta" to the authorities invested with these powers to practice uncontrolled discrimination at their pleasure and caprice…………… such a rule is capable of robbing an employee of his dignity and making him a supine person whose destiny is at the mercy of the concerned authority (whom he must humour) not withstanding the constitutional guarantee enshrined in Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India."
Now going back to the general perception of the majority of people and bureaucrats alike that an IAS officer cannot choose his posting, only rider appears to be that 'till his salary is protected'.
All the people who hold this view will be shocked if asked to answer a simple question. "Does the government have power to post an IAS officer of the rank of say Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary as attender, duly protecting his salary and may be also designation as 'administrative attendant'?"
This is not a moot question. The State Governments are day in and day out, creating innocuous posts with hardly an office or subject just to humiliate and punish the un- amenable officers. I do not know that how many of people will like to give answer to the above question in the affirmative.
When this service was contemplated and created on the lines of ICS, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the then Home Minister had to say this in the Constituent Assembly: "The Union will go, you will not have a united India if you do not have a good All India Service which has the independence to speak out its mind, which has a sense of security. If you do not adopt this course, then do not follow the present constitution. (Indian Constituent Assembly Debates, ix- Oct10, 1949).
In his letter dated 30th April, 1948, to Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patel wrote against leaving the service at the mercy of the central and provincial legislatures on the ground that "the chances of interference with the service and seriously prejudicing their efficiency on account of the interaction of Central and Provincial politics were closer."
Dr. P.C.Alexander in his booklet 'Civil Service in the next millennium' writing about his meeting with Sardar Patel writes "I recall the occasion when we probationers from the IAS Training School at Metcalfe House, Delhi, were taken to meet Sardar Patel at his residence in 1949. He looked very tired and ill and was almost in his last days. I remember his words of advice to us the new entrants to the service:- " We have done our duty by creating a frame in which you can work with freedom and impartially and from now on it is your job to do your best to your country."
The issue is, was this an empty boast on the part of the first Home Minister of India?
The answer to this question is certainly in the negative.
To ward off the above apprehensions of political interference with the service and thereby seriously prejudicing its efficiency, All India Services Act, 1951 was enacted and elaborate rules viz. IAS Cadre Rules 1954, IAS Pay Rules, 1959, IAS Cadre (Fixation of Strength) Regulations, 1954 etc. were issued to govern various aspects of Cadre structure, transfer and postings and regulation of pay scales etc of IAS officers.
It is another story that, in spite of framing of elaborate rules, the vested interests were finally able to bring those apprehensions of the first Home Minister of India, true and started interfering with the Indian Administrative Service by violating the rules with impunity, thereby totally defeating the very purpose and raison detre of the All India Service.
It brings us to the natural question that is, why and how this manipulation, nay, subversion of the system started? Why is simple and how is quite illuminating.
Why? Because every boss, be he a political executive or bureaucrat wants a pliant subordinate.
How? is an illuminating story. If we agree that the avowed objective of the creation of the Indian Administrative was to produce civil servants who could give free and fair advice to the political executive, the laws governing the scheme could not aim at or provide for pliant bureaucrat and thus obviously any attempt to produce or prepare a breed of pliant bureaucrats has to be outside the scheme of All India Services and in violation of the laws on the subject.
This all started with the collusion of the political executive and crafty senior bureaucrats in devising ways to reward the subservient and punish the 'recalcitrant' either by manipulation or subversion. Manipulation presupposes being within the parameters of law whereas the subversion is just opposite. Manipulation, like avoidance of tax is legal; subversion like evasion of tax is illegal.
Wrongly or rightly, IAS officers are perceived as being an intelligent section of Indian society. Perhaps it would have added to their credit if they had evolved some system of achieving their dubious ambition within the parameters of law but unfortunately they also could not find out any such method and finally resorted to subversion of system by violation of laws and rules.
To achieve their 'goal' of rewarding the pliant and punishing the 'recalcitrant', the only way was to give a go by to the whole concept of seniority and juniority, abolish the concept of posts to be manned by senior level officers and junior level officers and for this purpose perhaps most of the State governments have embarked upon a system of mass promotion irrespective of vacancy or rules, so that the powers that be have a big pool of available candidates to choose from as favorites for coveted posts. In this process junior officers are posted to senior positions and senior officers are occupying junior positions and senior officers keep quiet with this situation because they get a few thousand Rupees extra salary because of promotion. This is a case of mass bribery by the government.
To punish the 'non amenable' officers, the government creates innocuous 'ex-cadre' posts, declaring its equivalence to the ranks of Special Chief Secretary/ Principal Secretary/Secretary etc. as the case may be. This, serves the dual purpose of humiliating the senior officers and also of sending right messages to the 'non amenable' officers to behave. To give the example of Andhra Pradesh, an officer of the rank of Chief Secretary with 34 years of service is Commissioner Shore Area Development Authority where hardly one or two files come to the officer in a week, and an officer of 33 years seniority is posted as Commissioner, Revision of Manuals where again hardly a file comes in a week. Chairman, Godavari Valley Authority, State Editor of District Gazetteer are some of the other such posts.
And all this is done in clear violation of existing rules and Supreme Court judgments. which provide that such ex-cadre posts cannot be created in excess of the prescribed limit and the posts have to be equated with a particular rank of IAS Cadre only after objective assessment of its status and responsibilities being equal to such rank and also in spite of specific stipulation in the IAS Cadre Rules, that such posts can be created only for two years by the State Governments and can be continued for another three years with the permission of the Central Government. But the State Governments are continuing these ex-cadre posts for decades, not years, and declaring equivalence at their whims and fancies. I am sure the situation may not be different in other States.
Before giving specific examples of the violations of rules and law, by the State Governments in this regard, let us understand some basic facts about IAS Cadres.

The composition and strength of IAS cadre for a State is fixed under IAS (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulation, 1955. Every State's Cadre consists of following categories of posts (i)Cadre posts, (ii) Leave Reserve and junior level posts (iii) Training Reserve (iv)Central deputation and (v) State deputation. Cadre posts are those which are designated by name. And the other are not designated by name and are called ex-cadre posts. Both these groups that is 'cadre posts' and 'ex- cadre posts' together make the cadre strength of a State and the 'ex-cadre' posts are not outside the cadre strength of the State. The ex-cadre posts are meant to be created for emergency requirement of the State Government for short period only duly following the rules. As per rules, there has to be every five year, a review of the Cadre of each State by the Central government and if any of these ex-cadre posts are required for a longer period, the same may be included by the government of India in the Cadre posts of the State. And Government of India is the over all Cadre controlling authority of every State and the State governments have no power to change the Cadre structure of the State.

Now coming to some specific examples of the violations of rules and law, by the State Governments are resorting to, to undermine the working of the Indian Administrative Service,
IAS Cadre Rules stipulate that a State Government can create number of cadre ex-cadre posts within the prescribed limit only. This limit for the State of Andhra Pradesh is 42 but as on date the State government has created more than 100 ex-cadre posts.
IAS Cadre Rules also provide that the permissible number of ex-cadre posts can be created by the State Governments only for two years and can be continued for another three years with the approval of Government of India. At least in case of Andhra Pradesh, the State Government has not obtained any such approval from the Central Government.

IAS Cadre Rules further provide that even with Central Government approval, these posts cannot survive for more than five years but in Andhra Pradesh, most of these posts are in existence and being continued for decades not years.

IAS Cadre Rules stipulate that an IAS officer can be posted to an ex-cadre post only after the post is equated to a cadre post after objective assessment. The State government is not doing any assessment not to talk of objective assessment before creation of these posts. This is one of the most important provisions of IAS Cadre Rules which is meant for prohibiting the State Government from capricious exercise of power of creating innocuous ex-cadre posts. Actually this is this rule which prohibits the State Government from creating an ex-cadre post of attender and posting an IAS officer in that post.
The Supreme Court in E.P.Royappa vs. State of Tamil Nadu and another has dealt in detail with the issue of posting of IAS officers in non cadre post and observed that "If the State Government wants to appoint a member of the Indian Administrative Service to a non-cadre post created by it, it cannot do so unless it makes a declaration setting out which is the cadre post to which such non-cadre post is equivalent in status and responsibility. The making of such a declaration is a sine qua non of the exercise of power under sub-r (1). It is not an idle formality, which can be dispensed with at the sweet will of the Government. It has a purpose behind it and that is to ensure that a member of the Indian Administrative Service is not pushed off to a non-cadre post which is inferior in status and responsibility to that occupied by him" (emphasis mine)
The Supreme Court in the same case further observed: "The object of this provision clearly is to ensure that the public services are in the discharge of their duties, not exposed to the demoralizing and depraving effects of personal or political nepotism or victimization or the vagaries of the political machine. The determination of equivalence is, therefore made a condition precedent before a member of the Indian Administrative Service can be appointed to a non-cadre post under sub-r. (1). It is mandatory requirement, which must be obeyed. The Government must apply its mind to the nature and responsibilities of the functions and duties attached to the non-cadre post and determine the equivalence. Therefore the pay attached to the non-cadre post is not material. As pointed out by the Government of India in a decision given by it in MHA letter No.32/52/56-AIS (II) dated 10th July 1956 the basic criterion for the determination of equivalence is "the nature and responsibilities of duties attached to the post and not the pay attached to the post".
The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has kept on creating ex cadre posts without any assessment of the rank of the officer required to hold such post and posted officers of its choice without any reference to his seniority and rank.

The Supreme Court Judgment in E.P.Royappa and others Vs. State of Tamilnadu and another, also held that the same ex-cadre post cannot be equated to one level of IAS at one time and another level of IAS at another time unless there is a change in the duties and responsibilities of the post. But the Government of Andhra Pradesh is posting IAS officers of different ranks at different times in the same post at its whims and fancies.

IAS Cadre Rules provide that no Cadre post can be kept in abeyance for more than six months. But the government is keeping the Cadre posts in abeyance for months together and posting non cadre officers of its choice in the Cadre posts for years together perhaps to reward them with a feeling of working in IAS posts.
The Government of India did not stop at making enough legal provisions to ensure that IAS officers are kept insulated from the depraving effects of political influences. The Government also provided for a system of quarterly scale check by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India so that IAS Cadre Rules are not violated in the posting of IAS officers.
The Ministry of Home Affairs vide its memo dated 21-2-66 prescribed for the scale check of All India Service officers. And directed that the above check in respect of I.A.S. / P.C.S. cadre of each State should be carried out by the Accountant General concerned with reference to I.A.S./ P.C.S. (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulations, 1955, in relation to each State. In other words, it should be examined whether the posts shown against each item have been properly utilized. IT is also to be checked up whether any of the cadre post is held by a non cadre officer without proper approval. The Government direction prescribed the check to be conducted quarterly and report to be sent to Government of India and the State government every quarter.

But unfortunately, like various machineries of the Government, the office of C.A.G. is also failing in its duties. The Supreme Court of India in its judgment dated 20-03-2002 in UNION OF INDIA Vs. R.S. CHOPRA AND OTHERS, held that creation of excess ex-cadre posts by the State Government than permitted by rules is contrary to law and such excess posts do not exist in the eye of law. And therefore, the holder of such posts cannot claim pay scales of the Post.
In spite of the clear cut direction of the Supreme Court all such IAS officers posted in such posts are irregularly getting their pay slips issued thanks to the inaction of C.A.G.
Every citizen of India has a right to be administered as per the law and a service which is incapable of administering its own affairs as per law cannot be expected to administer the country accordingly. All said and done Indian Administrative Service remains the premier service of the country and has a role in almost every affair of the country. People have great expectations from this service and that is the only reason why so much is talked about the service but unfortunately there has never been any concerted or informed debate about why the service is failing and how the service is being managed? It is time nation takes up this debate.
MD. SHAFIQUZZAMAN (IAS ,1977 batch AP cadre )

The Honourable thing to do

The Pakistani Lt Gen referred to in your news item has NOT "quit in protest", but has done the honourable thing by requesting premature retirement on two grounds - first, in a hierarchal structure it would incorrect for him to serve under a junior, and second, he does not wish to inhibit/queer the pitch for the officer selected for the post.

In fact, the Pakistani Army (being highly professional) follows some very honourable standards from which we could draw useful lessons. You would recall the recent episode of Shekhar Dutt (ex Def Secy), and his line of action under similar circumstances!! Even nations with whom we have antagonistic relations must be appreciated for good procedures, while condemning what is patently wrong.

Ch KS Sindhu

Mystery should be resolved
The mystery regarding death/suicide/murder of Rizwanur Rehman
should be resolved by administering narco analysis test to suspected
police officials of Kolkata police. The police had no business to register a false case against Rizwanur Rehman for kidnapping Prianka Todi when both of them had got married few days ago on their own free will and pressurise Rizwanur to break off the marriage. Law gives police vast powers to investigate crime but in the process police personnel should not themselves turn into criminals secure in the belief that they are beyond the reach of law. Venerable Jyoti Basu has done the correct thing by saying that action will be taken against police officials involved. He should use his influence to ensure that police officials are sensitised to human rights concerns and provisions of the constitution so that they do not become a menace to the society.
Sudhir Chopra

TAIL-PIECE

Musharraf calls Bush on 11th sept:
Musharraf: Mr President, I would like to express my
condolences to you. It is a real tragedy. So many people, such great bldgs... I would like to ensure that we had nothing in connection with that..
Bush: What buildings? What people??
Musharraf: Oh, and what time is it in America now?
Bush: It's eight in the morning.
Musharraf: Oops...Will call back in an hour!

Contributed by-Col Satish Dewan

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Now Sonia's put up her dukes and said that Congress is ready for election,
Very aggressive words ka selection!!!

Inside story is that Congress would be happy for a post Budget poll!!
So that in the next Budget PC can roll out election aimed dole!!!

Gandhi family will divide India into three parts for campaigning!!!
Rahul will go to States where it's projected that Congress is gaining!!!

Sonia and Priyanka will divide the rest of India amongst themselves,
Will be more like Rahul's helping elves!!!

A Vision Document for Rahul is also being readied…… what will it envision????
As per inside info as elections are around the corner Vision Document is based on near vision!

Commies are looking more and more pathetic!!!
After all their positioning against 123 Deal withdrawal of support should have been automatic!!

But seems they are looking for excuses not to pull the plug!!!
Simply refuse to pull the rug!!!

Like power spoilt BJP its made Commies power addicts!!!
Commies have got used to issuing edicts!!!

They know India is operationalizing the 123 Deal but behave as if Deal has been put on hold!!
Their excuse is ' we believe what we are being told'!!!

Brand Gowda is now toilet paper after its been used!!!!
Trust Gowda and his sonny have abused!!!

But how come BJP did not see this coming????
They've got experience is such partnerships and power sharing chumming!!!

And the excuses that Gowda's giving for going back on his word shows he's morally broke!
One can equate this to moral insolvency of this bloke!!!

In Mumbai public is up in arms on account of Red Wheat,
Pawar should be feeling the heat!!!

The Red Wheat is not even fit for animal feed!!!
And for rotting wheat India 's Treasury has been made to bleed!!!

Pawar fits the role of Politicians shown in Bollywood movies…to any level they fall!!!
While Public suffers they have a ball!!!

For all you know Pawar will say that 'beggars don't have a choice'!!!
Against Pawar Public should raise its voice!!!

And Sonia and Manmohan are mute spectators… silenced on account of numerical compulsion!!!
For Pawar's jiggery pokery it's for Congress that Public is feeling revulsion!!

Because this is perceived to be a Congress Sarkar!!!
And so for Pawar's jiggery pokery Congress ko padhe gi maar!!!

In fact today Pawar is the Minister whose performance has been miserable or very bad!!!
And there are allegations that in many Deals by his Ministry India's been had!!

Modi's governance in Gujarat is getting him praise!!!
Only problem today is that some Party men ne dissidence ka banner kiya hai raise!!!

For Congress this dissidence is the only hope!!!
Otherwise with the Modi Juggernaut they cannot cope!!

There are murmurs in some quarters of BJP that Uma be brought back!!!
Uma too has realized that without BJP charisma karti hai lack!!!

But she's burned her bridges with BJP so how will she return????
A hand of friendship from BJP she cannot afford to spurn!!!

She has to realize that her need is more than BJP's!!!
Some in the BJP say hope this reality she sees!!!

In MP BJP can do without Uma running around like a headless chicken!!!
And if she does come back chances get brighter that BJP will give Congress a 'lickin' (slang for licking)!!!

In Rajasthan BJP's on a loosing wicket!!!
Could be bowled out as per glossary of cricket!!!!

BJP is divided house in Rajasthan and this needs to rectified!!!
Fevicol needs to be immediately applied!!

Inflation figures are abs wrong……kitchen costs up by 13.3%,
Atta, Oils, Veggies prices have shot up and making in Kitchen Budgets a huge dent!!!

Onions are up at Rs. 30 per kilo…. making Public cry without even cutting it!!!
Many kitchens don't use onions as in budgets onions do not fit!!!

And Manmohan Singh says Sarkaar has no control over commodity prices!!!
Hope he realizes Sarkaar not plugging the export hole in time causes commodity price rises!!

Many would take his statement as salt sprinkling on their wounds caused by price rise!!!
Manmohan ji being a sadist is not nice!!!

Employment figures show that US Fed went for the overkill by reducing interest rates,
Now on this overkill there are going to be debates!!!

Sensex and Nifty shot up after Fed's announcement of interest rate cut,
Sensex and Nifty shot up too steeply phutaa phutt ( immediately)!!

Confucius says : Steeper the rise steeper and faster is the fall!!!
This opinion of Confucius can be tested by throwing up in the air a ball!!!!

Bharat Kumar
Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com r

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CORPORATE

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