Today's whispers are tomorrow's realities
T A Vaidyanathan

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

Will Moorthy move from the CBDT ?
There is a strong rumour that CBDT Chairman S S N Moorthy is moving to the Vigyan Bhawan as Secretary of the Inter-State Council by this month end.
Sudhir Chandra to be CBDT Chief ?
In the event of S S N Moorthy’s joining in the Inter-State Council as Secretary Member (Investigation), Sudhir Chandra will succeed him as CBDT Chairman. He is 1973 batch IRS officer.
Mukul Joshi to move ?
Grapevine has it that Secretary of the Inter-State Council Mukul Joshi is getting some other assignment on April 31. He is 1975 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.
1990 batch empanelment file to reach HM today
The file related to empanelment of 1990 batch IAS officials for the post of Joint secretary is expected to reach the Home Minister on Monday from where it will be moved for appraisal by the Prime Minister.
Who will be new Chairman Railway Board?
Rumblings in the Indian Railway Ministry have begun on the question of that as to who will be new Chairman Railway Board (CRB), after present incumbent SS Khurana retires in May 2010.
6 IPS officers to get promoted to DG’s rank in IB
Five of Six IPS officers of the 1976 batch who are posted in Intelligence Bureau (IB) as Additional Director (ADG) will get promoted to the rank of DG early next month.
Aruna Sharma awarded Ph D
Aruna Sharma (IAS1982) has been awarded Phd by Delhi University on her thesis, "Socio-psychological barriers to public health care" She is presently Director General Doordshan
Move to bifurcate post of CMD NHB
The post of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) in the National Housing Bank (NHB) has been shelved. This is explicit from the fact that recent advertisement that was circulated for the top post had sought applications for the post of CMD in NHB.
Move to bifurcate post of Chairman & MD in NHB shelved
RS Butola MD,OVL tops list for CMD,IOC
As the grapevine has it, RS Butola Managing Director (MD) ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) tops the list of  contenders for the slot of Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Is selection of CMD’s in public sector banks in a quagmire?
Is selection of those senior Executive Director (ED) level bankers whose selection for elevation as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) in different public sector banks was done, in a quagmire? As the grapevine has it, somebody has challenged the process.
Prasar Bharti Board meeting on April 7
Meeting of the Prasar Bharti Board is going to take place on April 1.This will be first meeting to be Chaired by Ms Mrinal Pande.
Vijay Kumar ex ED Air India is Member, AERA
Vijay Kumar ex Executive Director (ED) of the Air India has joined as a Member of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) of which maiden Chairman is Yashwant S. Bhave.
(We said this on November 24,2009)
13 in fraty for post of Member BSNL
As many as 13 contenders are in fray for the post of Member (Enterprises) in Bharat Sanchar Nigasm Ltd (BSNL) interviews for which are going to be held on March 22, 2010. Of them six are insiders while other contenders are from Indian Railways & Indian Defence.
Five Commissioners in CBEC may be elevated as Chief Commissioners
As many as five Commissioners in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) will soon be elevated as Chief Commissioners as UPSC has fixed date March 22, 2010 for finalising the same.
Appointment of MP High Court judges in a quagmire
As the grapevine has it appointment of MP High Court judges in a quagmire because higher ups have sought certain information about two names forwarded by the Collegium
One IAS in fray for post of JNPT’s chief
As the grapevine has it, Paneerselvan (IAS, Gujarat cadre) is the only bureaucrat who is in fray for the post of Chairman for the Mumbai based Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT). Other contenders are from other services.
Satish Chander Gupta poised to be Member, BIFR
As the grapevine has it ,Satish Chander Gupta former Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of United Bank will soon be a Member in the Bureau of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (India) (BIFR). He had retired from United Bank in February 2010 only.
(We said this on January 31, 2010)
Vijay Bhaskar is new Regional Director, RBI Bangalore
Vijay Bhaskar is going to Bangalore as Regional Director of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Bhattacharya goes to Dhaka from Tokyo
Sanjay Bhattacharya has been moved from Tokyo to Dhaka as DCM.
RPF official Harananda promoted as IG
Harananda DIG (CSC/NWR) has been promoted as IG at same place. He is a RPF Police Cadre officer in Ministry of Railway, Government of India.
Uttam Khobragade in run for MD’s slot in CIDCO
As the grapevine has it, Uttam Khobragade is one of three Maharashtra cadre IAS officers who are in the reckoning for the post of Managing Director (MD) in the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd(CIDCO). He is an IAS officer of the 1984 batch who belongs to the Maharashtra cadre.
Anil Khachi poised to go to GOI
As the grapevine has it, Anil Khachi is poised to go to the Government of India (GOI) on deputation. Presently he is Secretary Food & Civil Supplies besides holding charge of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Himachal Pradesh. He is an IAS officer of 1986 batch who belongs to Himachal Pradesh cadre.
PC Tyagi to join Wild Life Institute
PC Tyagi, Conservator of Forest (CF), Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project (TAP), is poised to join the Dehradun based Wild Life Institute as a scientist. He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1983 batch who belongs to the Tamil Nadu cadre.
How many PS with Ministers for over a decade?
How many incumbents are serving Indian Ministers in Government of India (GOI) as their PS for over 10 years or more?  This question was hotly discussed at a high profile party recently.
Pradeep Kumar to join CBI as SP
Pradeep Kumar is poised to be appointed as Superintendent of Police in CBI. He is an IPS officer of the 2003 batch who belongs to the Tamil Nadu cadre.
Cabinet approves creation of new post of Member CBEC
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the revival of one post of the Member in the CBEC. Ms. Vijai Lakshmi Sharma - Director General (DG) of Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Delhi, is tipped to be Member Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC).
Mystery shrouds in delay of 1989 batch IRS (IT) ?
Mystery shrouds the delay in the promotion of 1989 batch IRS (IT) to the rank of Commissioner.
Goel to be Director (Commercial ) EIL !
G D Goel is being tipped to be new Director (Commercial) in the Engineering India Ltd (EIL).The PESB has reportedly put the name of Goel as number one in the panel.
Orissa CM makes complaint to PM ?
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is reported to have made a complaint to the Prime Minister against the move of the Shipping Ministry to bring in a Port Officer as Chairman of the Paradeep Port Trust in Orissa ,instead of an IAS officer.
1997 batch IAS get super-time scale in Tripura
Five 1997 batch IAS officers have been given super-time scale in Tripura. They are Mssrs :- Dilip , L Darlong, Santanu Das, Kishore Ambuly , Samarjit Bhowmik and Vijoy Debbarma.
Seminar on Domestic Violence
A two day seminar on Domestic Violence has been organised by Ashwini Luthra, chief commissiner of Income Tax (retd) in collaboration with Nehru Memorial Memorial Trust at Teen Muti auditorium on 22nd and 23rd March 2010 .Those wishing to attend may pl call 9999180610 for details
Two IRTS to join IRCTC
Two SAG/IRTS officers Narendra Pal Singh  of NER and Shivraj Singh of the WR are going to IRCTC on deputation as Group General Manager.
Railway transfers and postings
PN Jha of SAG/IRSME has been transferred from ER on being relieved from the post of ADRM/Sealdah to ER itself against the newly created SAG post in Mechanical Department for operation of committee on  heritage and culture, PK Saha of
SAG/IRSME has been transferred from ER to be posted as ADRM/Sealdah on ER itself, Pankaj Kumar of SAG/IRSME has been transferred from NCR on release from the post of DRM/Jhansi to SR and posted in the cadre and AK Mittal of
SAG/IRSE has been transferred from ER to be appointed in HAG and posted as CAO/Con/II on ER itself.
Rajagopal promoted as Dy Commissioner of Income Tax
K Rajagopal, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax has been, in compliance of CAT Madras bench’s order, promoted to officiate as Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax w.e.f. Jan 1, 2006.
RTI
Information Activism?
A letter dated 15 March, 2010 stating that the Rules of Internal Assessment applicable in the University of Delhi are not easily available to students was received, which the Commission registered as a Complaint. The Commission held that the same is covered under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act and should be readily available in the public domain and particularly to students of the University of Delhi. Under the powers bestowed vide section 25 (5), the Commission directed to put the information on internet, as hard copies in library and also as bilingual signboards at various places in the university.
 
Comments
The case is unique for many reasons – firstly, registering a simple letter as complaint which is similar to PIL; secondly, the speed with which the Commission has taken action (the order was delivered on 17-03-2010); and also, the way it shows to all citizens for enforcing disclosure by the Public Authority. All organisations are expected to suo-motu disclose information about them and in case of failure to do so, this mode of complaint appears to be an easy option.
[Mr. AN Prasad v. University of Delhi in Decision No. CIC/SG/C/2010/000334/7162]
 
 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
Kaul to look after new openings of The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts
Rajiv Kaul who has become president of The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts will look after the new launches of the group under its expansion plans. It includes openings in New Delhi in 2010 and in Chennai in 2011. Kaul who started his career four decades ago in 1978 with The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has remained vice president of Oberoi Hotels Egypt, VP - Taj Mumbai Hotels and GM - The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower. He joined the group as senior vice president in March 2006.
Kelkar appointed Independent Director
Former Secretary Finance Vijay Kelkar has been appointed Independent Director by the J M Financial.
Rambabu is Director of Central Bank
General Secretary of the Central Bank of India Employees Association AP B. S. Rambabu has been appointed workmen-employee director of the bank.
Promotions in Karnataka Bank
Four Assistant General Managers Raghurama, M.V. Mohan, S. Anandarama Adiga and G.T. Hegde have been appointed as Deputy General Managers in the Karnataka Bank Ltd..

Aaj Ki Aawaz
If Punjab MLAs have their way Punjab Netas will be freed from ‘ vendetta cases’!!!
They say this is to bring ‘bohemia’ back with slimy smiles on their faces!
 
So all the corruption cases will be placed in the Vendetta file!!
I’m sure Lady with Scales will taste in her mouth bile!!
 
Beneficiaries…. Badals, Amrinder, Bhattal and the jing bang lot!!
Though Amrinder says ‘this amnesty I’ve not sought’!
 
He’s a smart guy because he knows the rule will apply to all!!
And so by saying ‘I do not want my cases withdrawn’ he’s trying to walk tall!
 
It’ll indeed be a sad day if this is allowed,
Justice would have literally been mowed!!
 
PC knows interrogating Headley in US will be more like an ‘interview’!!
It’ll be like ‘interrogating’ Dawood in ISI’s office in my view!!
 
In fact for all you know Headley might end up interrogating those interrogating him!
The idea of him being interrogated in US sure sounds dim!!
 
I think we Indians should send a message to USA!!!
Sign a petition and have our say!!
 
Ask them suppose India did what US did in the Headley matter to a 9/11 accused!!
All its might to get this accused deported US would have used!!
 
The Developed World would have booed and threatened with sanctions too!!
US would have been on India’s case till India did what US wanted it to do!
 
Sonia should realize ' good work is felt and does not need to be advertised'!!
Sonia needs to tell 'I'm jobless' Shiela and 'Khap-tured' Hooda  'get your ad budgets downsized'!!
 
Dixit and Hooda are spending our money to tom-tom what Sonia has done!!
By deeds and not be ads hearts are won!!
 
Okay this is an ad driven World and we understand some publicity!!
But these two have gone overboard with ads and billboards in every town and City!
 
Amar Singh is singing Sonia and Rahul's praises!!
I'm sure many an eyebrow in political circles this raises!!
 
He says he did not praise them in past as he toed the Party line!!
Recall bytes and note that he did not show pressure, hesitation or remorse ka sign!!
 
Congress should ignore this!!!
Amar deserves to be given the miss!!
 
He’s now banged his head on all doors and is trying to ‘praise his way into Congress’!
He’s a wolf in a ‘flatterers’ dress!!
 
The two new IPL teams cost more than existing eight!!!
You can calculate the phenomenal ‘inflation rate’!!
 
Kerela’s Rendezvous Group emerged victorious in buying an IPL team!
And Tharoor karr rahe hai beam!!
 
Tharoor says he did not bid for the Team but the Rendezvous Group has his blessing!!
The blessing part he’s been stressing!!
 
Confucius says….. Tharoor is indeed undiplomatic!!!!
And he’s in a Ministry that requires his to be diplomatic!!
 
Adds…. And he's very irresponsible too!!!
He seems to be either biting stuff he’s not supposed to eat or biting more than he can chew!!

Bharat Kumar
<aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com>

 
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. However, we would also request our contributors not to be personal, directly or indirectly, in presenting their views. Instead of countering the views which ‘X’ has already expressed, our contributors are advised to present their own views. Also be brief, say about 200 words at the most since any views longer than that if eliminated at our end would carry the risk of the contrbutor’s item losing its original essence)
Why delay in empanelment?
Why are officers of other services till 1990 batch not being empanelled as Joint Secretary to Government of India under central staffing scheme when the 1990 batch of the IAS is already empanelled when the scheme is open to all and deputation posts are open posts? Why this severe discrimination giving the IAS an undue advantage over the others? It is time now to give a quota to the other backward services in Central Staffing Scheme. Without that, the legitimate due of the other backward services (non IAS)will never be given.
Vijay Kumar

Misuse of Official Car
Most of the officers in govt. are entitled to a decent sum as Transport Allowance. In order to curtail the misuse of O C, they should be freely allowed to use the car as long as the expenditure on POL does not exceed say 70% of their eligibility limit(assuming 30% income tax on TA amount)
Rajendra

Fix tenure and retirement age at Jt Secr level
Tenure of Cabinet Secretary and CVC should be 5 years. Retirement age for Joint Secretary and above should be 65 years.
Rita

GOI attempts to remove doubts !
At last, the GOI has attempted to remove the lurking doubts in the minds of the lesser All India Services by fine tuning Note 3 under Rule 3 of the IFS ( Pay ) Rules! Now, the amended note clearly provides for extending of grant of financial benefit on non functional basis to the IFS / IPS officers working in the State whenever an IAS officer two year or more junior to them is posted to a post carrying a particular grade / grade pay in PB 3, 4 or HAG. But whatever largesse the DOPT has conceded in the Rules, has been restricted by a mere letter issued by them dated 16th March, 2010! The rule shall be applicable to officers of IFS / IPS in the States only when an IAS officer is posted in the centre to a Central Staffing Scheme post!
Let's get it straight! The DOPT Guidelines for promotion of IFS / IPS officers to CCF / IGP and APCCF / ADGP level posts in the States prescribe the minimum period of 18 and 25 years respectively. IAS officers, on the other hand, can be promoted on completion of 16 and 25 years to similar levels. There is a gap of 2 years at CCF / IGP / Secretary level and none at the APCCF / ADGP / Prin. Secretary level.
Take a concrete case - Maharashtra!
In Maharashtra, IAS officers of 1981 batch were promoted to Prin. Secy. level in Sept. 2007. Their IPS counterparts were promoted two years later to ADGP level. In the case of IFS, however, officers of 1977 batch are still awaiting to be promoted to APCCF level even after completion of 32 years of service. Officers of 1979 batch of IFS in the State shall be entitled to the APCCF grade on non functional basis only in 2011, i.e. when they complete 32 years of service, as against 25 years prescribed in the guidelines. So the amended Rule does not benefit them due to the restriction placed on the application of Note 3 by a Circular dated16th March. A posting in the Centre is, therefore, sought to be restricted to mean only the Central Staffing posts, which restricts provisions of Rule 6 of the IFS / IPS ( Cadre ) Rules!
Let me place an example before the readers. Do please visit the DOPT's Website and locate the list of Additional Secy. and equivalent officers in the GOI posted there. Dr. K. M. Abraham, an IAS officer of 1982 batch figures in the list at sr. no 62. He is working as Member SEBI since 17th July, 2008. His Executive Record, which has been made inaccessible ever since this Assn. raised the issue, shows him to be on Central Deputation. Since provisions of Note 3 could not be restricted, a Circular had to be issued to exclude postings like Dr. Abraham's from the application of Note 3. Hope the Minister for Environment & Forests takes note of this anomaly in the light of the Cabinet decision published on the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission. Our Cadre, he is aware, is the worst affected in the entire country in terms of career progression. So much so that the recent cadre review, which is likely to be notified shortly, may actually cause reversions of 4 -7 officers from CF to DCF level. And, these officers have completed 20 years of service! Hope, that the GOI takes serious note of this injustice and link the non functional financial upgradation to IAS officers promoted in the State.
President IFS Association Maharashtra

It can’t be true ?
It cannot be true that in army it takes 30-35 years to become brigadier. How come officers as young as 44 yr are getting promoted as brigadiers(regular not acting promotion). An IPS becomes a Dig at 38-40 yrs, but then an army officer costs twice as much (if not more) as any other equivalent civilian officer.
Observer

“ Procedure of selection of nationalized banks chiefs faulty !!!”
The procedure of selection of CMDs of nationalized banks is totally subjective, based on “pick and choose” The PESB’s assesses leadership qualities of aspirants by holding interviews in the presence of their performance appraisal reports. All Executive Directors of the banking sector, irrespective of their length of services in the grade, are treated at par. The high profile “Appointments Board” headed by the Governor RBI and consisting of its Deputy Governor, Secretary(DEA) and two independent outside experts, is a charade as it makes recommendations on the basis of performance appraisal dossiers of aspirants. These are, more often than not, subjective . Worse, no interviews are held. The Board , more or less, functions like the Departmental Promotion Committee( DPC) .No transparency, no bench marking. Fair and objective assessments are the obvious casualties. The GOI (Read as muscle, money and political power)always has the upper hand in these high profile appointments. The stake holders have no say! Merit takes the backseat. Why is the GOI bent on destroying the integrity of the present institutions? Why can’t it makes the existing institutional mechanism more transparent, professional and empowered ?It is high time the Government made radical changes in the present compositions of the “PESB”( for industrial PSUs) and the “Appointments Board”( for banking chiefs) and insulate these from political influence. With myself as Secretary PESB and N Vittal as its Chairman, we had strongly recommended to GOI that appointments of CEOs of nationalized banks must be brought under the purview of the PESB. This was stoutly opposed by MOF as it involved loss of their authority and power! Thus, following banking sector procedure for locating Chiefs of Hydrocarbon sector PSUs would be a retrograde step!
A K SAXENA (A retired civil servant)

Dr. Sen should continue
If you can’t give good suggestion for CSI don’t give bad suggestion. Many people have helped many others. Should it be a criteria for being selected for the post of CSI. I sincerely wish Dr. Sen to continue. The name and fame he has got is anybody whose names are surfaced comparable. The search committee with never take your suggestion and they will select a CSI like Dr. Pronab Sen and show to the public that they are truly search committee. I have great respect for Alluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning commission. Please wait and see.
Subhasis Misra

Unrest among CPO officers
The main cause of unrest among officers of CPOs is that they already have very limited avenues of career growth. Even these limited avenues are have been illegally usurped by the IPS officers. The IPS officers do not work at the ground levels in the CPOs hence they have very cleverly made reservations for themselves at the levels of DIG and above. If they come at lower levels, they know that they may have to slog at remote places in difficult conditions. They have a lobby with the powers that be and so they can have their cake and eat it too.
Let me clarify further that we sympathise with the officers of CBI also. They too are our CPO brothers who continue to remain downtrodden.
Anil

NREGA – a joke
"NREGA proving to be a farcical job generator" does not truly convey the happening. It is, in fact, a crude & cruel joke with the suffering rural masses. It is well thought out Serious Fraud aimed at stopping flow of people from rural area towards urban area and make them continue to live in hell without getting any advantage of the economic growth.
Babubhai Vaghela

Misuse of telephones
Misuse of telephones in government offices comprises not merely making private calls or passing on unauthorised official information to outsiders. The main abuse consists of remaining inaccessible to citizens by directing the P A to tell the callers that the sahab is not sitting. One can never come to know where the sahab is or when he will be back and one is not expect that he will ever call back. Thus the official phone becomes an instrument of stone walling all querries. The only solution lies in creating a phone monitoring organisation on the lines of wireless monitoring organisation which could monitor official phones by random sampling or on specific complaint. This would drastically improve the efficiency of government offices.
S K Sharma