What people say about us !

I am a regular reader of your news, become an addict of it because of it being very informative and useful.

Beejaksharee Verman

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Madam is allergic to criticism ... she only likes wah wah!!!!
This censorship demand is just getting her more and more bah bah (brickbats) !!

Kapil Sibal has asked Facebook, Google and Twitter to screen content..... used the communal card....... the actual objective being political! He also cited a morphed pic of Sonia Gandhi. Actually Sonia is worried about the anti Gandhi family content on all three Sites!!! Fact is all three Sites do have an 'anti abuse' policy and do take action on abusive posts..... but it's as per their policies and not as per the servility expected by Congress from Indians !!! Congress may be an autocracy where Sonia and her family are like holy cows and even taking their names without adding Ji or Sir or Madam is considered as abuse..... but the rest of India is not bound by this!!! Moreover Indians need a platform to air their opinions.... vent their anger against the Government's stupidities, corruption, lethargy , ineffectiveness and attempts to dupe the Public!!! Congress is in its right to set up its own monitoring Cell , which as per my info is already in place, and to complain to Facebook, Google and Twitter against what is find abusive and then it is up to these three Sites to check it out and take action!!! Sibal also wants anonymity on these three Sites to go!!! Wants all accounts to be verified!!! In a Nation in which whistleblowers are brow beaten or silenced I think anonymity is needed.... any Democratic mind would feel the need!! Today on all three Sites there is literally a tsunami of resentment against Kapil Sibal's demand!!!

Slide in Rupee worrying ... leading to BOP situation!!!
And funnily this is an Economist PM's creation!!

That's because he followed and follows keep an arm's length position..... be it PC, Dada. Montek, RBI...... PM keeps arm's length!!! It is being said there is further downside for the Rupee!!! Actually after FII outflow and inflow of FDI on hold Indian Rupee did find its true value..... Rs. 50 to the $!!! India is grappling with huge internal and external financial woes and this is leading to an erosion in the Rupee after it reached its true level!! RBI has to find the ideal intervention mode.... not too much or too little!! If situation in Europe worsens India could face a huge problem and a severe devaluation of the Rupee..... investment money has already deleveraged out of Indian Markets on account of the Europe crisis...more deleveraging is on the cards if Europe cracks up!!!!! Dark clouds on the horizon .... getting darker!!!!

A handful of Indians wealth grows by leaps and bounds!!
And a major section of Indian gareebi literally hounds!!

The gap between the 'haves and have nots' widens!!! A joke, though it could be true: Mukesh does not involve himself in day to day running of RIL.....he's engrossed in investing the profits of his Group! Anil Ambani every week flies down to Delhi to meet his Political contacts!!!PM stepping in to help out Mallya... though he said 'help out Aviation Sector' he did not show any concern prior to Kingfisher's woes!! When ordinary Indians face financial woes no one steps in to help them out!!! One learns about the 'handful of Indians' rocketing wealth by their lifestyles and acquisitions!! Insider Trading is rampant....... backroom deals........ rumours abound!!! We also learn from the Media about the true wealth of our Netas!! Their declarations to EC are like a joke and Public takes these declarations with a sack full of salt!! Like take Pawar ....in his EC declaration he says he does not own a car..... but he is driven about in the snazziest cars!! On the other hand an ordinary Indian when he buys an Alto Car or a One bedroom house ... he receives a Notice from IT to explain source of funds!!

PS......some jokes doing the rounds..... Dirty Picture..... UPA!!!! Famous Harvinder Singh has been enquiring in Jail about a MP from Old Delhi!! Is Congress hunting for another issue to stop Parliament from functioning......this attack on freedom of expression could be the next flashpoint!! Sonia's firewall ... Kapilwall!!

Bharat Kumar
aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

Name of one top leader from Punjab figures in Swiss Bank
Name of one top leader from Punjab has reached in the North Block who is having Swiss Bank Account.

Is India Inc with Congress?
Have the corporates lost faith in the present government is the feeler 10 Janpath is sending out. Do they have any faith left in
Dr. Man Mohan Singh's policies is what the Congress high command is keen to know.

Will Power Ministry revise power tariffs upwards?
Given the high input cost of coal, there is pressure on power ministry by the private and public sector players to revise domestic power tariffs.

Will treaty in Euro zone give fillip to India's growth?
One of the key concerns that is hurting domestic growth is the slowdown in Euro zone and demand thereof. There is a new treaty
mooted by France and Germany which proposes to bring down deficits higher than percent. The treaty is likely to be discussed on Wednesday. So will this new treaty once again give a spurt to sagging? European markets and give India a much needed boost is the gossip amongst exporters and corporate circles.

Written on a signboard in Mumbai ' Retail fiasco, Wholesale embarrassment'
Why is corporate sector not backing government on FDI in retail? The conundrum many backers of FDI within UPA are facing, is due to the lack of vociferous participation from corporate sector.

BUREAUCRACY

D K Mittal to be new Secretary Commerce?
Grapevine has it that Secretary Financial Services D K Mittal is moving as Secretary Commerce in a month or two. He is 1977 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Decks cleared for Dr Rahul Khullar
If top sources are to be believed decks have been cleared for the posting of Secretary Commerce Dr Rahul Khullar as Ambassador European Union in Brusells. He is 1975 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Secretary Pharmaceuticals to be Tamil?
New Secretary Pharmaceuticals will be Tamil but outside the Tamil Nadu cadre. Minister has refused to accept 1977 batch UP cadre IAS officer Loretta Mary Vas as Secretary.

Dr Yashpal Singh to be Secretary Minority Affairs
Dr Yashpal Singh is being tipped to be new Joint Secretary Minority Affairs in the Government of India. He is 1984 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre.

Anil Kumar to be JS Mines
Anil Kumar is all set to join as Joint Secretary Mining in the Government of India in a week or two.

MHA send panel of three names for CBI
Ministry of Home Affairs has sent the list of IPS Panel for the post of Additional Director, CBI. The list includes the name PM Nair, Spl .DG- CRPF New Delhi, N.R. Vasan, OSD to Andhra Pradesh Bhawan New Delhi & RC Arora, DG Jails ,Bhopal.

Panel for Commerce deferred
The CSB deferred the panel for the post of Joint Secretary Commerce in the Government of India.

Review of 1990 batch is yet to take place
Review of 1990 batch IAS officers to the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government of India is yet to take place. Out of 90 officers 54 had been empanelled. Several officers have already given representation for empanelment.

Who will be Vice Chancellor of the AMU?
Who will be new Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University ?.Tie is said to be 1980 batch IAS officer of UP cadre Majid Ali and former 1977 batch IAS officer of UP cadre Noor mohammad.

Jain is new Director (UT) in MHA
SK Jain has joined as Director, Services (Union Territory), in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. He is an 1983 batch IDSE Officer.

KK Jha soon to be Secretary, PNGRB
As the grapevine has it, file relating to appointment of KK Jha - Director (Pipelines) of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is under process.
(We said this on June 23, 2011)

Khandu joins BSF
Sanjay Khandu has joined as IG - Border Security Force, FHQ, New Delhi, after completing his NDC Training Course. He is 1989 batch IPS officer of HP Cadre.

Two in fray for IES Member in FMC
There are two contenders for the slot of IES Member in Forward Markets Commission (FMC) .So far D S Kolamkar was an IES Member in the FMC who has now become Director General, Labour Bureau, Chandigarh. They are: Dr.K.S.R.V.S. Chalam and Dr M. Mathisekaran, Economic Adviser in the FMC. The former is Economic Adviser in the Madhya Pradesh Government's Directorate of Institutional Finance. This post is meant for an officer of the Indian Economic Service (IES).

Anthony de sa to return Madhya Pradesh
Indications are that Anthony de Sa (IAS: 1980) will be re-joining his parent Madhya Pradesh cadre shortly after completion of his five year deputation with the UN. The grapevine has it that UNIDO was pressing De Sa to continue, and even head its China operations, in view of the outstanding success he has made of the South-South Centre in New Delhi, which now has projects on-going all over Africa and Asia, but he has preferred to return to government.

1996 batch IAS to get super-time scale in Gujarat
1996 batch IAS officers are being given super-time scale in Gujarat in a month or two.

Ashish Mehta to move from MEA
Ashish Mehta (US) Finance in Ministry of External Affairs is moving to Bamako as Second Secretary.

R Viswanathan promoted & posted as Advisor in Agriculture & Cooperation
R Viswanathan, Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) officer of Indian Economic Service, has been promoted to Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) and posted as Adviser, Agriculture and Cooperation.

Who will be Dy MD of IDBI?
Hectic lobbying is going on for the post of Deputy Managing Director of the IDBI.

Gopinathan promoted as Principal AG
C Gopinathan (IA&AS 1986), Principal Director, Accounts has been promoted as Principal Accountant General. C Gopinathan has taken over as Director General, (AEC) in CAG office.

R P Singh to be Independent Director GAIL
Former Secretary DIPP R P Singh is being tipped to be Independent Director GAIL. He is retired 1976 batch IAS officer.

Sandeep Bamzai to be Editor of "Mail Today"
As the grapevine has it Sandeep Bamzai of Headlines Today is moving as Editor of "Mail Today" .

Bharat Bhushan to be Editor DNA
As the grapevine has it Bharat Bhushan Editor of Mail Today is moving to Mumbai based English daily titled "DNA" as Editor. Presently, he is Editor of Mail Today.

Vishnu Prakash appointed Ambassador to Korea (UPDATED)
Vishnu Prakash, presently Joint Secretary at MEA Headquarters has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Republic of Korea.
( We said this on October11 )

A. R. Sekar is officiating CMD of New India Assurance Co. (UPDATED)
A. R. Sekar is officiating Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of The New India Assurance Co. Ltd. He is the senior most General Manager in the said company.

G. Srinivasan ceases to be CMD, New India Insurance (UPDATED)
G. Srinivasan who was earlier given additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) New India Assurance Co has ceased to be CMD of the said company. He is already CMD of the United Insurance Company. He was appointed in place of Ramdoss who was suspended on August 16,2011.

Shake up in non life PSU insurance in 1 month (UPDATED)
Shake up in non life PSU insurance companies is expected to take place in one month's time.

(DEBATE)
EMPANELMENT IN GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Whether administrative procedure for empanelment of Additional Secretary and Secretary in the Government of India is fair and legally sound?
Mail your views to suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com or mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com

CORPORATE

Reliance asks three entities to help raise debt
It is heard that Reliance Industries which has plans to issue debt has hired Citigroup, UBS AG and Bank of America as well as two leading US private equity players to help it raise debt for acquisitions abroad. However given the dent on RIL's credibility off late due to a row with oil ministry how easy will it be for the company to raise debt is the whisper making rounds in corporate corridors.

Will NTPC accept restructuring to consolidate its position?
NTPC has accepted draft recommendations of consultancy firm Deloitte Touche which require it to exit from joint ventures of coal hunt abroad, exit JV with power equipment maker Alstom, and exiting NTPC Hydro Ltd. However these are long term commitments and taking a view will require various clearances from board and government which also has a seat on its board says an official from the power major.

Principal Mutual Fund appoints Michael Pinto
Principal Mutual Fund has appointed Michael Pinto as an Independent Director on the board of Principal Trustee Company Private Limited.

Ms. Ruchi Malhotra quits AIG Global Mutual Fund
Ms. Ruchi Malhotra analyst of AIG Global Investment Group Mutual Fund has resigned from the company.

Sunil Dutt appointed MD
Sunil Dutt has been appointed as Managing Director, India for Research In Motion (RIM), today. Prior to Joining RIM, Mr Dutt worked for Hewlett Packard India Sales Pte Ltd as President, Personal Systems Group and was responsible for expanding their business in enterprise, mid-market and consumer space. Prior to that, Mr Dutt worked in senior positions for companies like Samsung India Electronics Ltd , Nokia India Pte Ltd, Whirlpool of India Ltd, Wipro Limited and Philips India.

Anand resigns as Company Secy. Empee Distilleries Ltd
R. Anand, Vice President (F&A) and Company Secretary , Empee Distilleries Ltd has resigned from the company.

Gandhi appointed Company Secy. First Winner Industries Ltd
Ms. Avani Gandhi has been appointed as Company Secretary of First Winner Industries Ltd with effect from November 25, 2011.

Suresh K appointed CFO, Brigade Enterprises Ltd
Suresh K has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Brigade Enterprises Ltd w.e.f. December 05, 2011.

Chandrasekhar designated as CFO, Andhra Bank
TVS Chandrasekhar, General Manager has been designated as the Chief Financial Officer of Andhra Bank w.e.f. November 28, 2011.

Lala appointed CEO, Shelter Infra Projects Ltd
Pradeep Kanti Lala has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shelter Infra Projects Ltd w.e.f. November 28, 2011.

Chakraborty appointed Addl. Director, Shelter Infra Projects Ltd
Bappaditya Chakraborty has been appointed as an Additional Director of Shelter Infra Projects Ltd w.e.f. November 14, 2011.

Singhania appointed Addl. Director, Deep Industries Ltd
Deep Industries Ltd has appointed Ajay Kumar Singhania has as an Additional Director of the company w.e.f. December 3, 2011 .

Todi resigns as Non Exec. Director, Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd
Vishnu Todi, Non-Executive & Non-Independent Director of Genus Power Infrastructures Ltd has resigned from the company w.e.f. December 5, 2011.

Dutt appointed MD (India Operations) , Research in Motion
Research in Motion--- the manufacturers of BlackBerry phones has appointed Sunil Dutt as Managing Director (India Operations).

DEBATE (1)

Empanelment procedure allows only certain services particularly IAS & accounts Services. It has given more than 70-80% representation to them. Other services are represented for names sake & some services are not represented at all. It is nothing but discrimination & only those near power take advantage. DOPT should take action & ensure proper representation.

-Puri

Immovable Property Returs

There is no clarity in the factual position. If the official concerned is a public servant, his Immovable Property details should not be concealed under the garb of `personal information' especially so, when the official concerned is `public' where is the question of calling his immovable property as `secret' in the light of the Govt's policy to make it public in respect of all Govt. servants right from the top.? The CIC owes an explanation.

R V Nathan

Group C should be under Lokpal

The recent news story about a Police sub-Inspector in Mumbai who was caught for taking bribes and was found to possess assets worth Rs 25 crore including five residential flats,points to the need for covering lower bureaucracy under a powerful Lokpal if the citizen is to be saved from the clutches of these avaricious officials.

S P Mishra

At the insistence of corrupt bureaucracy

The government is keen to keep Group C staff out of purview of Lok Pal at the insistence of corrupt bureaucracy because Officers take bribe through their Stenographers. just have a look around there are large number of senior officers who go to the extent of fighting, writing DO Letters insisting their steno should not be transferred because this disturbs their channels and they are at home with it. the DOP&T also obliges and allows officers to retain their stenographers, peons, drivers etc. thus corruption can never be wiped out unless the personal staff attached to officers are rotated compulsorily. Every person whether Group-C or D or Group-A or B must be transferred and there should be change of Office and also building so that corruption can be wiped out. I pray to our honest Prime Minister incharge of DOPT to take bold step and transfer all secretariat staff officials who remain parked in one seat for life and devise clever means of making money. their is no accountability, politicians are afraid of IAS officers because they leak files, notings , information to Press and expose politicians who many time are innocent because they first time Ministers do not know much about government rules and relying on the babu who blackmails politician, arm twist him and get their own work done. the all conduct of politician is coming under public scrutiny so he is cautious and afraid about spoiling his image as he wants to fight election again but in the case of babu he is secure he misguiding politician and get what he want and politician pay price. therefore politicians carry out orders of IAS babus and are not including the Group-C. this is one way of weakening the Lokpal Bill.

Pritpal singh

How many of them tried to get sufficient staff recruited?

How many of these Ombudsmen really tried to get sufficient staff recruited? While they were working as Chief Commissioner? Most of them were taking all the staff to their own offices and the junior officers had to manage their offices with skeleton staff! They were advising the Junior Officers to manage it someway. This management is going for the last 20 years and nobody is bothered about it!

Devadasan

It's jittery

Assange's recent revelation that some of the leading corporate MNCs are eves dropping on various communication media and using the information thus collected to black mail third world countries has given me jitters. With allegations of black money and Swiss accounts flying all around against prominent ruling party members and their all powerful President and with the list containing some of the names even available to Government who refuse to divulge it,our national security is at very high risk.The powerful MNCs might have already in possession of such lists.One hopes the alacrity with which Government tried roughshod the Nuclear Bill over Parliament,the sneaky way the Government changed first the tender conditions for the purchase of air crafts for Air India and then increasing the number of air crafts from 10 to 38 at the peril of Air India,the way FDI in retail is being brought in now all indicate that 'some thing is rotten in the state of Denmark'. Enough is enough. It is time for SC, atleast on nation's sake to intervene. SC should ask the Government to reveal the names of Swiss account holders and repudiate the clandestine treaty recently entered into with Swiss Government to help such account holders and form a SIT to probe into the matter. Sooner it is done the better though some with foreign passports may run away from this country.

N Krishnan

Can any action be taken?

When the property returns are not liable to be disclosed, can any action be taken against the state governments for not respecting the privacy of the officers? Should the practise be put to an end?

Shakti Singh

Government and Unions are mistaken

Government and Unions are mistaken that BSNL/MTNL can not run without ITS. That's why they have relieved only 18% officers so far.

Brij Mohan

Should the Property returns be disclosed?

The applicant sought the copies about the movable and immovable property returns of an IAS Officer for a particular period. The PIO consulted the officer in terms of the provisions of Section 11 of the RTI Act. The officer objected to giving the details stating that the property file returns is purely a personal matter and is not related with any public activity or interest. In line with the view taken by the CIC in numerous decisions in the past, the Commission upheld the decision of the PIO not to disclose such information. The CIC has consistently held that the immovable property returns filed by officers are their personal information and should not be ordinarily disclosed. Section 8 (1)(j) of the RTI Act exempts such information from disclosure. The CIC observed that in recent months, on their own several state governments have published the immovable property returns filed by the All India Service officers in their respective websites. Therefore, the Commission directed the CPIO to ascertain from the State Government of Uttar Pradesh about this and disclose the information to the Complainant provided such returns have already been published by the State Government.

Comments

Immovable Property Return (IPR) of a government servant is a personal information and is not liable for disclosure under the RTI Act.

[Shri M P Singh v. Staff Selection Commission in CIC/WB/C/2010/000026SM]

- Weekly article by Dr. (Mrs.) Anuradha Verma
(dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in), RTI Consultant to IIM, Indore and Co-author of the book: RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE by Taxmann. (The views are Personal)