What people say about us !

This is the best website for vigilant and information seeking people.
Vikram Singh Meena, DGM, MMTC

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Finally some acceptance from Montek aka the Fibster!! He lied time and again on inflation coming down... and now his excuse for his forecasting 'missing the target by a mile'........... 'short term forecasting of inflation is prone to errors'!!! His proclamations that inflation was coming down were emphatic and the reason why he made these 'inflation ebbing' predictions were to save the UPA Government's skin and face!! For his information...... when economists are objective in forecasting their forecasts are pretty accurate...like take US or UK ......such forecasting is done all the time and forecasts are very accurate!! And surprisingly our FM was mum on inflation and it was Montek who took it on to himself to fib on inflation coming down!! The excuses that he gave for high inflation were also pathetic.... high inflation because of global factors... Indians eating too much.........high inflation outfall of growth! And then we got to see the real Montek.... gallivanting overseas at our expense... Page 3 partying..... at Davos making an utter ass of himself and showing India in poor light!! And imagine PM wanted Montek to be India's FM post PC getting the boot from MOF!!

Our choices reflect what we really are!!!
No wonders Montek is PM's 'eye ka star' (aankh ka taara)!!

Advani's Yatra ..... 3/10!!!!! I do not know how he could term it as an anti corruption Yatra!!! Advani himself got away on a technicality in the Hawala Case!! Corruption Fighter is one who when scratched proves to be 'solid gold'..... and here Anna only fits the bill!! The Yatra got a 'expected' response in BJP ruled States... however in Punjab it was not on expected lines as Congress seems to be on a upswing or maybe as seat sharing talks are due Akalis stage managed a tepid response......his Yatra got a good response in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi because Congress is on the decline... rest of States...nothing to write home about!! Advani rants about Sonia but it's well known he has with Sonia a 'no vendetta pact'..... though lesser than Sushma who has a 'we are friends' pact with Sonia.... so if you think Advani will deliver on what he is promising on corruption you will be disappointed .......his anti corruption talk is all hogwash..... if, God Forbid, he becomes PM you will see a sea change in him within one week of his taking over.... he'll be talking in Pranab Da's 'language'!!

Advani like Rahul is also nothing but a drama!!!
Like Rahul he too thinks 'Public ka I can make in a jiffy Mama (fool)!!!

After a hectic day Rahul is resting .... and staying out of sight.... his 'UPites go to Maharashtra like beggars' got him enough flack for him to duck out of sight for a few days!!! His 'minder' Digvijay has turned his attention to Kambli's statement...... Digvijay has come out in support for Azhar..... Azhar belongs to the majority minority and also he is a Congressman.......now people say you can take it for granted that Digvijay will side with 'the wrong'! Camp Rahul is in 'introspection'!!! The Kick Off (UP campaign) proved to be like 'kicking oneself'!!! Why doesn't he try Sholay's Salim aka Salman's Dad to pen his speeches?? Javed got Sonia ' a proverbial black eye' with his Maut ka Saudagar dialogue! And Rahul has to learn to orate impromptu!!! Today the word on the street is Rahul reads out whatever is 'given to him'!!! And his friendship with Omar is being looked upon as 'birds of feather flock together'.... Omar is considered to be a nincompoop because of his gaffe a day regimen!!!!

Rahul hope you've got a couple of aces up your sleeve!!!
You've taken a huge risk in UP is what many like me believe!!

PS.....psephology.... in Punjab Congress has an upper hand though Badals have not been written off... desperate Manpreet is now doing round of Deras to try to get at least 4 or 5 seats... in Uttrakhand Khanduri has brought a BJP revival... though BJP will have to give a commitment that like last time this time BJP will not change Khanduri midway!! In UP fight is between BSP and SP..... BPJ is third and Congress is still fourth.... that's why many Rahul supporters say ' hope he knows what he is doing'!! Request to West Indies Team... please let Sachin complete his 100th 100.... getting sick of the pre-match Media hype on his completing his 100th 100!!! Bachchan wanted privacy... and when they go privacy they got a touch of Media glare withdrawal... now they are tweeting for name suggestions for the newborn!!!

Bharat Kumar
aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

Academician to be Secretary, Higher Education?
In case Ms Vibha Puri is moved to the Department of Personnel, new Secretary Higher Education may not be an IAS but an Academician. This is the thinking of HRD Minister Kapil Sibal. One can only wait and watch.

Minister keen for technocrat on Post of Secretary, IT
The post of Information Technology Secretary in the Government of India has been vacant for the last one year. Telecom Secretary R Chandrasekhar is holding additional charge. Infact, Minister Kapil Sibal is keen only for a technocrat and not for a bureaucrat for this post. Who will make it IAS or a technocrat?

Anand Sharma wants an IAS to head MMTC!
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma is believed to have written a letter to the Cabinet Secretary for posting an IAS officer as CMD of the MMTC. Now decision from the top is awaited.

Jairam Ramesh wants technocrat, not IAS for KAPART
Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh wants posting of a technocrat instead of an IAS as DG - Council for Advancement of People's Action and Rural Technology (CAPART).Presently the post is held by an IAS officer.

Rajiv Gupta to be Chairman Bombay Port Trust
Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping Rajiv Gupta is all set to take over as new Chairman of the Bombay Port Trust.He is an IRSME officer.

Vivek Saxena is PS to MoEF Ms.Jayanti Natrajan
Vivek Saxena who so far was Director in the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoEF) has joined as private secretary to Minister for MoEF Ms. Jayanti Natrajan. He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1991 batch who belongs to the Haryana cadre.

Future of Subramanyam uncertain
Former PS to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, B V R Subramanyam, spent two days in Raipur and reportedly expressed his desire of going on two months leave.1987 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre Subramanyam has been out of the erstwhile Madhya Pradesh and now Chhattisgarh cadre for the last 13 years. Some people say that he will be joining the PMO again. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in view of the shortage has already recalled all the IAS officers from the central deputation. Chhattisgarh IAS officers are keenly watching the Subramanyam case.

Is the influence of T K A Nair on wane?
Appointment of 1981 batch Bihar cadre IAS officer B P Sharma as Establishment Officer (EO) is being considered very significant in the changed scenario in the Government of India. There were strong reports of Punjab cadre IAS officer Anjuly Chib Duggal's appointment for this prestigious post. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, T K A Nair who is former Punjab cadre IAS had reportedly backed the candidature of Anjuly Chib Duggal. Now she has been appointed Additional Secretary Expenditure.

Pulok Chaterji's influence in bureaucracy
Pulok Chaterji's influence on the bureaucracy was recently visible during the empanelment of 1978 batch IAS officers to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India.

Will Ashok Thakur go as Chief Secretary of HP?
There are strong rumours that Ashok Thakur is returning to Himachal Pradesh as Chief Secretary.1977 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre Thakur is presently Special Secretary in Higher Education in the Government of India.

Rajiv Jain to be Director Film Festivals
Rajiv Jain is all set to become Director Film Festivals in the Government of India.1991 batch Indian Information Service officer Jain is presently posted in the DAVP.

IPS postings in Uttar Pradesh
ADG Vipin Kumar has been moved to the Police Training Headquarters. Harish Chandra will now head Police Training College Sitapur.

Changes in Defence Ministry likely in 2012
As the grapevine has it, there will be no changes in the Defence Ministry's armed forces till December 23, 2011. Chances are that changes will now happen in the new year.

RP Pant to be Director, Women & Child Welfare
As the grapevine has it, RP Pant - an officer of the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS), on central deputation, is poised be a Director in the Women and Child Welfare. He belongs to 1990 batch.

Rajesh Ranjan to join GoI as CVO?
Rajesh Ranjan is likely to join the Government of India as CVO. He is an IPS officer of 1984 batch who belongs to the Bihar cadre.

Will Anuradha Shankar join CBI?
IG Indore in Madhya Pradesh Ms. Anuradha Shankar is likely to be inducted as Joint Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in the Government of India. She is MP cadre IPS officer of 1990 batch.

KP Singh appointed Income Tax Ombudsman at Lucknow
KP Singh of Indian Revenue Service (IT) has been appointed as Income Tax Ombudsman at Lucknow for a period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or till the age of 63 years, whichever is earlier. He is required to take charge by Dec 8, 2011.
(We said this on September 9)

HIL to have fresh panel of CVO
Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL) will be asking soon the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Government of India for a new panel.

Post of FSSAI still vacant
The post of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is currently lying vacant. At present, the authority's CEO VN Gaur is holding the additional charge of the post.

GS Vedi appointed Director in NHPC
GS Vedi has been appointed as non-official part-time Director in National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited.

Gill to contest election from Moga
Retired Punjab DGP PS Gill is going to contest Vidhan Sabha election from Moga constituency on Akali Dal ticket.

IAS changes in Goa
The Chief Secretary of Goa, S K Srivastava, will hold the departments of Home, Personnel, Administrative Reforms Department, Chief Vigilance Officer, Civil Aviation and Principal Resident Commissioner. B Vijayan will look after Urban Development, Water Resources, Health, Science & Technology and Agriculture & Environment. RK Verma will head PWD, Forests, Mines and Geology, Information Technology, Transport, Archives & Archaeology and Tourism. S Kumaraswamy will look after Finance, Planning, Power, Revenue, Public-Private-Partnership, General Administration, Protocol and Convention Centre. Gonesh Koyu will be CEO. Secretary to the Governor Rajeev Verma will also hold charge of Information and Publicity, Tribal Welfare, Factories and Boilers, Labour and Employment, Official Language, Catering Management. DC Sahoo will hold charge of Civil Supplies and Price Control, Co-Operation, Housing. T M Balakrishnan will continue as Secretary to the Chief Minister and Secretary Industries & Commerce (SEZ). Tahang Taggu will hold charge of Sports and Youth Affairs. VP Rao will look after Education, Higher Education, Technical Education, Ports and Women & Child Development. Pawan K Sain will be Additional Secretary (Public Grievances) as well as Additional Secretary (Revenue). Pramod Kamat will continue as secretary Law, Judiciary and Legislative Affairs.

IPS postings in Jharkhand
Khunti SP Manoj Kaushik will now be SP Special branch. M Tamilvaan has been appointed as the new SP of Khunti. Akhilesh Kumar Jha, SP Jamshedpur, has been given the additional charge of SP Jamshedpur Rural.

Pakistan : DG ISI has already completed investigations in 'memogate'?
While the Government of Pakistan is yet to decide on the course of inquiry into the alleged memo handed over to the US Admiral Mike Mullen for staving off an army coup, press reports from Pakistan indicate that the Army top brass has already completed its investigations last month. According to these reports DG ISI Shuja Pasha questioned Mansoor Ejaz in a London hotel on Oct 22 for more than four hours. The evidence provided by Ejaz was run through forensic tests and found to be authentic after which the Army Chief was personally briefed by DG ISI. It is on the Army Chief's insistence that President Zardari who had earlier dismissed the alleged memo as a concocted lie had to finally agree to call Ambassador Haqqani to Islamabad 'to explain his role'. Based on revelations made by Mansoor Ijaz, the DG ISI has already prepared a questionnaire to grill Haqqani in an exclusive session with him in the presence of the Army Chief. The end result could be any body's guess.

Cooperation agreement between AAI and USTDA signed (UPDATED)
The AAI - USTDA Grant Agreement for technical assistance has been signed between AI and USTDA at a US India ACP Summit at New Delhi recently. The signatories to the agreement were V P Agrawal, Chairman, AAI and Ms Leocadia Zak, Director, USTDA in the presence of V Somasundaram, Member (ANS) and Mr Adam Matscheck, Program Evaluations Manager, USTDA . This Agreement will pave the way for implementation process of ATFM to take off in India and deservedly place India as one of the few countries in the in the World ATFM arena. The implementation of ATFM will not only benefit the Indian aviation industry in terms of enhancement in ATM capabilities for improving Safety, Efficiency, Capacity of the Airspace / Airports and environmental benefits but will also contribute to Regional and Global ATM harmonization .

Stage set for 1st Indian Forestry Congress (UPDATED)
A galaxy of experts and foresters drawn from India & abroad will dwell on different topics during the 1st Indian Forestry Congress (IFC)-2011 slated to commence at NASC complex, New Delhi on November 22,2011. The four day IFC being organized by the Indian Council of Forestry and Education (ICFRE) would be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Environment and Forests (MoEF), Ms. Jayanti Natrajan while Secretary, Planning Commission in the Government of India (GoI), Ms. Sudha Pillai, would be the Chief guest at the valedictory function to be held on November 25, 2011. Giving the above information, ICFRE's Director General (DG) Dr. V K Bahuguna said the event is aimed at bringing together various stakeholders of forestry including the researchers, planners, implementers and beneficiaries to exchange experiences and knowledge. As ICFRE is the premier institution in this region, Dr. Bahuguna said, it is proposed to establish "South Asian Forestry Research Institutions Network (SAFRIN) to promote better net working & experience sharing"on scientific matters for mutual benefits. Replying to a question Dr. Bahuguna said, the ICFRE will initiate research in frontier areas like genetic engineering, genome mapping, Nono technology etc. to meet the future challenges. Apart from this, he said, FRI being a deemed University aims to provide 10 scholarships per year to SAARC member states for post-graduate and doctoral studies in forestry courses.

Sunil Munshi to be Director (Personnel), AYCL (UPDATED)
Sunil Munshi, CE, Andrew Yule & Company Limited (AYCL), has been selected for the post of Director (Personnel) in the same Company at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on Monday. Eight persons were interviewed for the same.

ICVL to forge strategic relationship for coal mining in Virginia, US (UPDATED)
Continuing with efforts for ensuring raw material security and forging alliances with global entities for tapping new markets, C S Verma, Chairman, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), met a high-level delegation from the United States of America headed by Robert F. McDonnell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA, at Ispat Bhavan here today. The Governor was accompanied by Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade James S. Cheng and State Treasurer Ms Manju S. Ganeriwala. Verma held discussions with the Governor for facilitating acquisition of coking coal assets and companies in the mineral-rich state of Virginia which could become a sustainable source of coking coal for the promoter companies of International Coal Ventures Private Limited (ICVL). McDonnell assured his support in providing ICVL with requisite geological information and in identification of coking coal assets and mines. He also discussed the possibility of facilitating business between ICVL and small and medium mining companies in Virginia by forming joint ventures, besides exploring opportunities for greenfield locations. The Governor emphasised upon Virginia's state-of-art rail and port infrastructure required to maintain and build a sustainable working relation with ICVL. In order to facilitate Indian investment in Virginia, an office has been opened by the state in Mumbai. In 2009, Forbes magazine named Virginia the best state in the US for business for the fourth year in a row, while CNBC named it the top state for business in 2007, 2009 and 2011. Annually, Virginia produces over 24 million tonnes of coal and exported over US$ 293 million worth of goods & services to India in 2010, marking a 55% increase in the last two years. Virginia, which boasts of 31 Fortune 500 companies, has a considerable Indian industrial and corporate presence as well.

R C Mishra will take over as Provident Fund Commissioner tomorrow (UPDATED)
R C Mishra is taking over as Central Provident Fund Commissioner on Tuesday . He is 1978 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre.

(We said this in November 15, 2011)

(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

Only country in the world
India is perhaps the only country in the world, where iron ore - which adds value by converting it into steel - to be exported to China, is being sold at very cheap rates. Repeated pleas on imposing export duty have failed before the Bellary mafia.

Vijayakumar appointed Addl. Director, Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd
Bannari Amman Sugars Limited has appointed M P Vijayakumar, IAS (Retd) as an Additional Director on the Board of the Company.

Bhagat retires as Company Secy. Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd
V. C. Bhagat , Company Secretary, Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd has retired from the post with effect from November 10, 2011.

Joshi appointed Company Secy. Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd
Virag Joshi had been appointed as Company Secretary of Ratnamani Metals & Tubes Ltd with immediate effect.

Agrawala appointed President & CEO, GE India (Energy Business)
GE India has appointed Banmali Agrawala as President and CEO (Energy Business).

Shanker appointed Exec. Assistant Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group
InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed Kunal Shanker as the Executive Assistant Manager of Holiday Inn Cochin.

Kumar joins IPSoft as CEO
Patni Computer Services former CEO Jeya Kumar has joined New York-based IPSoft as its CEO for the Asia-Pacific region.

Goel quits Nomura Holdings as Head (Investment Banking), India
The Head of Investment Banking of Nomura Holdings in India Nipun Goel has quit the organisation.

DEBATE (1)

Why additional secretary and secretary, even joint secretary empanelment is unfair to every service except the IAS.

Vijay Kumar

DEBATE (2)

There is no fairness in postings of empanelled officers to ministries. The officers are not allowed to put forth their views which leads to the sycophants ruling the roost and the result is scam and corruption.

Sewaram

No well defined policy in Indian Railways

In Indian Railways, there is no well defined policy of postings & transfers of Officers. If we can device some system on the lines of cadre allocation of IAS / IPS / IFS Officers and follow the same religiously; things will slightly improve.

Rajesh Tiwari

Victim of biased politics

Rajiv Bhargava, IRSE, an exceptionally out standing and competent administrator is the victim of biased politics of Governance and Service. May he be successful in his pursuit of Justice.

B S Varman

Professional required as DGCA

Considering the amateurish way, the current part-time DGCA is approaching the present crisis in the aviation industry, there is urgent need to appoint a full-time professional as DGCA in the place of the present part-time stand-in of the ministry's FA which is doing great harm both administratively and professionally. Civil Aviation minister should act on this post haste.

K P Singh

No uniformity of practice

Terry is right in his observation on Income Tax Ombudsman. What is more is that there is no uniformity of practice. Though Ombudsman scale of pay is higher than Chief Commissioners, Ombudsman at many places have to depend on local Chief Commissioner for many things and he does not oblige the ombudsman. Many Chief Commissioners don't carry out CBDT Instructions. Result is ombudsman offices are largely non-functional. It is time that CBDT and Revenue Department take some concrete action to make the office of Ombudsman really effective so that taxpayer's grievance can be redressed properly.

Radheye

Somehow the game went other way

I think this is wrong as I understand that the case is that DoPT and Cabinet Secretary had recommend for open line and somehow the game went other way and this was not done ?

Kunal

DP&T orders still not clear

The recent orders of DP&T (CS.II Wing)regarding stepping up of CSSS senior officers in comparison to their juniors are still not clear. Some Ministries/ Departments have implemented the orders and stepped up the senior officers but others have been waiting for want of consolidated instructions/clarity on the issues. DP&T may kindly call for the status report about the implementation of the instructions and if not, DP&T may kindly issue instructions to clarify so that the senior officers irrespective of the Ministries/Departments may get their legitimate dues including arrears accrued.

V P Sharma

Not compensated adequately

In Central Government, there was a ban on recruitment for number of years resulting into hollowness of structure in ministries/deptt. Now they have to perform all type of task alike in PSUs/private sector but they are not compensated adequately. While their counterparts in loss making PSUs are given conveyance allowance, telephone re-imbursement etc. for attending duties even after office hours and on holidays but no such facility is available to them where they are also paid one-third at similar positions besides low promotion avenues etc. Joint Secretary and other Senior officers are given best hand holding support besides exclusive official car etc., no such facility is available to Under-Secretary/Section Officer but are expected to be equally or even more hard working and efficient. The Govt. intends to get more work from its officials which is welcome but they should be adequately compensated also uniformally alike their counter parts in PSUs etc or like Director/Joint Secretary in government departments.

Middle level structure in Govt.

Inclusion of C & D categories is justified. The employees in Group C & D are not born corrupt, but some are made and on others it is thrust in the absence of any other choice. The political establishment has refined the art of "ruling India" with the help of these two groups. Orders flow directly to them from the top, bypassing the rest of the hierarchy (comprising A,B,C,D), who are charged with the legitimate responsibility of examining everything as per the law/rules. To scuttle this procedure of office management, oral orders are given to the lowest-the most vulnerable class. So the FIRs are not written in police stations, food adulteration is not checked without orders from "above", fake currency is converted into genuine currency when bagfuls of currency notes are blindly credited to the political party account, smuggling goes on unabated, MLC is faked in hospitals, spurious drugs are sold boldly, private commercial/stage carriage are plied without licence and Bhrastaachaar becomes Aatyaachaar. Great Indian democracy in practice! Inclusion of C & D is in the remit of the Lok Pal Bill is amply justified to check the blackmail of C & D officials and humiliation of A & B officers. How long can the system suffer imprisonment of ministers, Secretaries, DGPs and other ranks? The undue pressure on C & D by the business-Babu-politician mafia calls for steps to check, to a certain extent, corruption. Otherwise let us be prepared to face all kinds of social, political & economic & administrative excesses in this "undemocratic democracy" called India.

M L Gupta

I hope a cadre of most technical and expert officers of international repute is not sent to doom by the non technical Babus sitting in Sanchar Mantralay.

PV

Non appearance of the respondents before the Commission

Vide order dated 15 September 2011, the CIC had directed that the CPIO must provide the desired information to the Appellant. The CIC further directed that the officer who had received the RTI application but preferred not to act on it thereby preventing the information seeker from getting the information, should appear before the CIC to explain if he had any reasonable cause for his inaction. The CIC noted that in spite of such clear direction, nobody turned up for the hearing. Holding that non-appearance of the respondent shows that the officer concerned has no explanation to offer, the CIC imposed the maximum penalty of Rs. 25,000/- on the Branch Manager of the bank. Further, the CIC directed to provide the information sought for in the application.

Comments

A PIO must use the opportunity to present his case before the Commission during the personal hearing. Failing to utilise this opportunity may cost him dearly.

Shri Deena Nath Prasad V. Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank in CIC/SM/A/2010/001254

- 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)