Good information
P K Majumdar

Contact-suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com> & <mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com>

Indian bureaucracy requires an overhaul
Indian bureaucracy is not only the worst in the whole continent but also most corrupt if one was to go by the responses received by whispersinthecorridors.com.  In a bid to elicit the views of people on what they think about Indian Bureaucracy, whispersinthecorridors had asked “Is Indian bureaucracy the worst in the whole continent?” and the response was tremendous but unfortunately it reflected the seamy side of the powers that be who run the country.
An overwhelming majority of the respondents, to the whispers debate, felt that the Indian bureaucracy is inefficient, indecisive and succumbs to pressure (of politicians) for want of creamy jobs.  “Things have reached to such a pass that honest man has no place in Government of India. Those who become Secretaries are always hand in glove with politicians. No action is ever taken against this top brass even if they have looted billions from the government exchequer”, says Harish Kumar. People of the country generally believe that it is the politicians who are corrupt but in India, Political system is still open for changes as politicians have to face common people. However, that is not the case with the bureaucrats. And the million dollar question is that Why do the bureaucrats succumb to such pressure. Obviously, for getting prize postings.  They are hand in glove with the politicians.And there is also little hope that the bureaucracy in India will ever change. As one of the respondent Abhimanyu  puts in, “Nothing can change their pace. They will continue to amass money, plunder and ruin the country unabated. Their performance will continue to be awfully dismal, accountability zero and responsibility negligible. Burden on exchequer is huge and slavery of political system has increased. And no changes can be expected from any government to overhaul this rot...which is stinking the country from North to South and East to West”.
Even the veteran journalist of the country Arun Shourie has said few years ago that the current bureaucracy is nothing more than Indian Appeasement Service.  “The perception still remains the same. Indian bureaucracy fits well into the boots of an economist as quoted in the joke: An economist returns to visit his old school. He's interested in the current exam questions and asks his old professor to show some. To his surprise they are exactly the same ones to which he had answered 10 years ago! When he asks about this, the professor answers: the questions are always the same - only the answers change!”, said Vinod Bhatia.
Another notion about the Indian bureaucracy which came out  during the debate was that it still works on the British Raj principles. “There has been no fundamental change since British left India. The purpose of governance has changed but the core of administration has not. We have not been able to allow development of think tank and to promote governance strictly on merit”, feels Manish Kumar.
Retirement age of Civil Servants ?
Retirement age of all scientists including agriculture scientists is raised only for JS level and above. They will serve till 64 years of age subject to two evaluations at the age of 60 and 62 years. Similar proposal for civil servants of JS level and above is also likely to come.
In-situ promotion of 1976 batch IAS on Jan 1st
It is now widely believed that 1976 batch IAS officers will get in-situ promotion as Secretary in the Government of India on January 1.
Ms Reddy to be Secretary (East) in MEA
Ms Vijaya Latha Reddy (IFS 1975) has joined as OSD in MEA after her return from posting to Thailand. She is going to take over as Secretary (East) after the retirement of N Ravi, present incumbant who retires on December 31, 2009.
Siraj Hussain to be Additional Secretary Environment ?
Siraj Hussain is likely to be appointed Additional Secretary Environment in the Government of India. He is 1979 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Mohanty to be Additional Secretary Urban Housing ?
P K Mohanty is being tipped to be Additional Secretary, Urban Housing and Poverty Alleviation, in the Government of India. He is 1979 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Post of Chief Statistician of India
Whisper in the corridors of Sardar Patel Bhavan is that the post of Chief Statistician of India is being advertised .Names of Mssrs Ramesh Kolli, Dr. A K Yogi, S C Seddey and T R Mohanty have already started doing the round. Only time will tell.
Justice Mukhopashaya appointed CJ of Gujarat High Court
Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya of the Madras High Court has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
( We said this on August 29 )
Orders of Justice Syed Rafat Alam this week ?
Senior Judge of the Allahabad High Court Justice Syed Rafat Alam is being moved to the Madhya Pradesh High Court as Chief Justice. Orders are expected to be issued this week.
( We said this on August 29 )
Anil Razdan advocates for new technology with less carbon emissions
Anil Razdan for Secretary Power to Government of India has advocated the need for development of new technology with less carbon emissions. Research for this should be held in public domain & it should be funded by developed nations so that developing nations were not burdened. This was essential to take safeguard vis a vis intellectual property rights (IPR). Developed countries should pay differential cost between conventional and new technology.
If they want new technology to be adopted by developing nations then developed nations should bear incremental cost. Anil Razdan is a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1973 batch who had superannuated on December 31,2008. While delivering a lecture at the World Policy Conference was held at Marrakech, Morocco he had emphasized the relevance of the 4 Es, namely, Energy, Equity, Environment and Efficiency, and the imperatives of energy security and the skewed availability of energy resources as well as incomes. In any human centric development, the measurable parameters have to be per capita emissions and energy intensity, opined Anil Razdan.
Now 10 yrs CR to be seen for empanelment in GoI
Now CR of the past 10 years would be considered for empanelment in the Government of India.
Expansion plans in Telecom sector put on hold
Telecom companies have slashed their call rates  @one paisa per second. Thanks to this move. Revenue of telecom players has shrunk.
Ashok Kumar to join one year mid career Program ?
G Asok Kumar is likely to join Duke University or Syracuse for 1-year mid career MPP training program. He is 1991 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer.
IIM Ahemdabad gets funds for one year course
IIM-Ahmedabad has been given an extension and an increase of almost
100% in funding for running the PGP-PMP one year course.
Committee of serving Secretaries to undertake empanelment of IAS
Henceforth, the Committee of Secretaries would be involved for the empanelment of IAS officials for the post of Joint secretary in the Government of India . This would come into force with the empanelment of 1990 batch IAS officials this month.
Petroleum Ministry will have 2 Director’s posts vacant
The Petroleum Ministry will have two vacancies at the Director level in January 2010. One vacancy had arisen ever since central deputation of Maninder Singh had concluded, while the second vacancy will arise later in December 2009, as tenure of Sanjay Gupta will conclude.
Anshu Prakash to be posted in Finance Corporation
On return from Arunachal Pradesh, Anshu Prakash is likely to be posted as MD - Delhi Finance Corporation. He is 1986 batch IAS officer.
Prem Singh promoted in IB
Prem Singh has been promoted to the rank of Additional Director in the Intelligence Bureau. He is 1977 batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
Minor bureaucratic reshuffle likely in Delhi
Finance Commission has been wound up in Delhi Government. Two senior IAS officers associated with the Finance Commission R S Sethi and Anand Prakash are to get posting.
Post of Tobacco Board’s ED in Guntur (AP) proposed to be filled up
Post of Tobacco Board’s ED in Guntur (AP) is proposed to be filled up. Officers of the rank of Deputy Secretary/Director of the Government of lndia or equivalent level are eligible for appointment on the post under the Central Staffing Scheme.
Online survey of officers belonging to ten civil services commissioned
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India, have commissioned an online survey of officers belonging to ten civil services.
DP Yadav posted as Senior Deputy Accountant General
DP Yadav (IA&AS-95), on repatriation to the department, is transferred and posted as Senior Deputy Accountant General (LBA & Accounts), Gujarat, Ahmedabad. He will relieve Shri RM Bhatia, Deputy Accountant General, of the additional charge held by him.
IAS officers need not disclose property statements
The TamilNadu State Information Commission has ruled that IAS officials are a privileged section whose property statements need not be made public.
HAL MD interview from Monday
PESB will hold interviews for the post of MD HAL for two days from Monday.
Vivek Kumar Agnihotri’s agility
Vivek Kumar Agnihotri Secretary General of Rajya Sabha is full of vigour, energy & is bubbling with high spirits. Though, he is 64 years, he is able to handle workload of the Rajya Sabha secretariat with deftness. Agnihotri is ex-IAS officer, 1968 batch, Andhra Pradesh cadre. Where from he derives his energy is being widely discussed?.
1978 batch IAS Warjri is Additional Chief Secretary in Meghalaya
P.B.O. Warjri, IAS (1978 batch, Assam-Meghalaya cadre) has been elevated as  Additional Chief Secretary (ACS)in Meghalaya.
Sumeet Jerath gets additional charge of Power in Assam
Commissioner – Panchayat & Rural Development, Government of Assam – Sumeet Jerath (IAS: 1985 batch:  Assam) has got the additional charge of Commissioner & Secretary – Power, Government of Assam. Jerath, an Economist – Manager by training has earlier worked as Deputy Secretary – Ministry of Power, Government of India and also as Commissioner & Secretary – Power, Government of Assam.
ICS & IAS Wives association’s carnival on December 13, 2009 (Updated)
Mrs. Gursharan Kaur wife of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh will inaugurate the ICS & IAS Wives’ association’s winter carnival at Delhi located Nehru Garden at 9 am on December 13, 2009. The association headed by Mrs. Jaya Chandeskhar wife of Cabinet K.M. Chandrasekhar.

RTI
Padma awards - Based on two Hindustan Times news-reports on alleged irregularities in selecting persons for Padma Awards for the year 2004, information about the violation of norms and procedures as allegedly cited by the then President and/or his secretariat while even once returning the file sought. It was denied claiming it as exempt u/s 8(1) (e) being fiduciary in nature and by virtue of Article 74(2) of the Constitution, communication between PM and President is protected from disclosure. Further, communication of the President is classified as ‘Secret’.
President’s Secretariat - The Commission held that President does not owe a fiduciary responsibility to the third party in the case. After examining the noting of files, the Commission held that the disclosure of the information regarding the merit of conferring award on various individual would amount to invasion of privacy and therefore, violate Section 8(1)(j). The Commission directed to provide copy of file noting from pages 4 to 8 of impugned file deleting there from all references to individual and discussion of their merit and demerits.
Comments - Padma awards are the highest civilian awards conferred to individuals in India. Charges of favouristsm and nepotism would only lower the prestige associated with it. Hopefully, there would
transparency in the selection of the awardees.

[Shri S.C. Agrawal v. President’s Secretariat in Appeal No. CIC/WB/A/2009/0039].
Mrs. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in)

Co-author of the book: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE by Taxmann
(A new decision every Monday)

CORPORATE
Orders regarding EDs in banks on Monday
Much awaited appointments of Executive Directors (EDs) in different public sector banks are expected today..
Asghar Ali Taj to be ED , Andhra Bank
As the grapevine has it, Asghar Ali Taj, General Manager with the Union Bank of India is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) of the Andhra Bank.
( We said this on September 3 )
D Sarkar to be elevated as ED, Allahabad Bank
As the grapevine has it, D Sarkar, General Manager with the Bank of Baroda, is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) of the Allahabad Bank.
( We said this on September 4)
Ajay Kumar to be elevated as ED, UCO Bank
As the grapevine has it, Ajai Kumar, General Manager with Bank of Baroda, is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) of the UCO Bank.
( We said this on July 21 )
N. Srinath to be elevated as ED, Bank of Baroda
As the grapevine has it, N. Srinath, General Manager with Canara Bank is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) of the Bank of Baroda.
( We said this on July 21 )
Ms.Nupur Mitra  to be elevated as ED, Indian Overseas Bank
As the grapevine has it, Ms. Nupur Mitra, General Manager with Bank of India,  is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) Indian Overseas Bank.
( We said this on July 2 and again on July 21 )
PK Anand to be elevated as ED, Punjab & Sindh Bank
As the grapevine has it, PK Anand, General Manager  with Corporation Bank, is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) Punjab & Sindh Bank.
( We said this on July 21 )
Narendra Singh to be elevated as ED, Corporation Bank
As the grapevine has it, Narendra Singh, General Manager with Allahabad Bank, is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) Corporation Bank.
Ram Gopal to be elevated as ED, Andhra Bank
As the grapevine has it, Ram Gopal, General Manager with Bank of India, is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) Indian s Bank.
MR Nayak to be elevated as ED, Allahabad Bank
As the grapevine has it, MR Nayak, General Manager  with Corporation Bank, is going to be elevated as Executive Director (ED) Allahabad Bank.
( We said this on July 21 )
JP Dua is CMD, Allahabad Bank
JP Dua had assumed the charge as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Allahabad Bank on late evening of December 4, 2009. Hitherto he was Executive Director (ED) in the same bank. The post of CMD - Allahabad Bank was lying vacant following elevation of KR Kamath as CMD of the Punjab national Bank (PNB) on October 27, 2009. Dua has, had scintillating innings as a banker.
(We said this on June 30, 2009)
Keki Mistry is new Chief of HDFC Bank
Keki Mistry now Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, will succeed Deepak Parekh on January 1 as Chief of the HDFC Bank.
V. Srinivasa Rangan appointed HDFC’ Executive Director
HDFC’s Senior General Manager and Chief Treasurer, V. Srinivasa Rangan, has been appointed the Executive Director of the Corporation for a period of five years. He will also oversee resources and accounts functions.

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Liberhan Report is akin to a person being asked to find out about a girl for a marriage!!!
But instead he predicts about the kids that will be born ...purpose ka miscarriage!!
 
It’s akin to Liberhan being a third umpire at a cricket match!!!!
Instead of adjudicating on run a out he says Wicket Keeper digging his nose he did catch!
 
The Report is flawed and biased and needs to be trashed!!!!
Really his mandate Liberhan totally hashed!!!
 
He conveniently ignores the locks being opened and the Shilanyaas being done!!!
Factually a ‘Kangaroo Commission’ Liberhan did run!!!
 
Now in despot Countries where they want trials to be hashed and delayed!!!
‘You are wanted here’ messages to Liberhan are being relayed!!!
 
Shourie is abs right …. the report is idiotic!!!
And it’s made matters even more chaotic!!!
 
Joke doing th rounds  ‘after Raja’s hanky-panky in 2G auctions Karuna can afford to retire’!
Politicos don't retire even when 'they feel they are near the pyre'!!!!
 
Because they say Politicos only retire when they are buried or burnt,
From the past and present this is what like me you too must have learnt!!!
 
With Papa retiring Azagiri will not want to leave TN even for a second!!!!!
Seems by PM to Delhi Azagiri needs to be beckoned!!
 
The message should be ‘ come by so and so date and time and if you do not do so’!!!
It’ll be understood that to continue as a Minister you are saying ‘no’!!!
 
This will give Azagiri brownie points with his electorate and exit of the honorable kind!
And then a replacement DMK can find!!!
 
How about giving the portfolio to Kanimozee????
In Delhi she’s pretty cozy!!!
 
Mauritian Cabinet met underwater and Nepalese at a high altitude!!!
But by saying he’ll attend the Summit Mohna’s shown the right attitude!!!
 
It’s a message that India really takes this issue seriously!!!
An issue that is not being given the status it deserves perilously!!
 
And then with Mohna there lose cannon Jairam Ramesh will be kept in check!!!
Ramesh in known to have ‘harebrain short circuit’ reactions in his upper deck!!!
 
Another joke doing the rounds is NREGA is the impetus that really delivered!!!
Because they say about 88% of NREGA funds are being ‘mis-delivered’!!
 
And the ‘mis-delivered’ funds reach stocks , realty and land!!!!
All 3's fall was stopped as from mis-delivered NREGA funds these 3 got a helping hand!
 
Confucius says….The scheme may be good but its delivery mechanism is faulty and so the huge leak!!!!
Money is being siphoned out  even as I speak (via my article)!!

Bharat Kumar

Forum
(The views expressed in this column are of the contributors. We do not owe any responsibility, whatsoever, of the views of our surfers as they are their personal opinion)
Tenure of PS to Ministers must be co-terminus
The tenure of PS to Ministers must be co-terminus and reappointment should only be considered after a cooling period of at least one year. In addition to other staff of the Ministers, all should be co terminus and reappointment after a cooling period of at least one year. There are a number of instances where personal staff lower than PS are working with minister for 20 years and after retirement also years together.

Pt Ram Kanwar
Another cadre restructure is wasteful exercise
Already there are so many IRS officers without any work in their seat and playing computer games and surfing the internet. They are just wasting the government money. Another cadre restructure is wasteful exercise.
SN
Not much of information about ITS cadre
There is not much of information shared about ITS cadre. Recently 1987 batch officers, about 20, got promoted as SAG officers. Please get the info from reliable source before mentioning in the site.
Y V Sastry