What people say about us !

You are doing great job.
B P Naik

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Pranab Da said in Parliament that growth does not make inflation rise.......why did he not check out what Mohna and Montek have been saying????? They had said that inflation is an outfall of growth!!!! In fact Montek had cruelly said high prices will make inflation come down as people will consume less and less!!! Pranab Da refuses to acknowledge that Cell Towers and Malls are guzzling subsidized diesel!! He refuses to recognize food grains wastage!!!! He says supply and demand mismatch is fuelling inflation....he needs to check out the stocks of food grains!! The Middleman has become India's bane!!

Pranab Da 'deficit' is not a bad word or a curse!

Pranab Da takes it as if one is spending more than one has in one's purse!!

Aunty 420 is under fire from within Congress and from Opposition.... all want her to resign!! Aunty's son has already started damning CAG..... and Aunty says she'll react after the CAG Report is tabled in Parliament!! Congress Spokesmen Singhvi & Tiwari are unable to give any logical answer..... and now poor fellows cannot even point fingers at Yeddy and say 'BJP should look within'!!! The logical and ethical step she must take till investigation is carried out based on CAG's findings is resign!! She has to go!!!

Abh aa gayi Aunty ki baari!!!

Aunty 3 times election jeethi parr because of greed CM ki kursi haari!!

In Parliament the Lokpal Bill was tabled and outside Parliament this Bill was burned!! BJP is crying croc tears that PM has not been included, because BJP too want to keep the PM out of the ambit of Lokpal!! When Vajpayee was the PM he had demanded that PM should come under the ambit of the Lokpal.... though for reasons best known to BJP and Congress Lokpal Bill did not materialize!! The friendly discussion in Parliament on inflation is a pointer that Congress and BJP do come to an understanding and indulge in noora kushti for Public's consumption!! And the Foreign Media is saying 'this Lokpal Bill does not go far enough'!!!

Congress has done the Nation a big disservice!!!!!

But then Congress is not in Nation's but Sonia's and Rahul's service!!

PS......Sad to hear about Sonia's illness!!! Here's wishing her a speedy recovery!!! I was informed by a little birdie a few days back that Rahul was to fly out..... maybe it was for this Mom's illness!! Anyway now it is being said he will hold fort in her absence..... it is being said that Sonia will be out for 3 weeks!! Health is the real wealth!!! Guarire Presto!!!!!!

Bharat Kumar

Did the Indian officials avoid Sonia Gandhi ?
There are reports that none of the senior official of Indian Embassy in US was present when Sonia Gandhi landed for medical treatment.

Former bureaucrat is now General Secretary WBPCC
Former bureaucrat Sukhabilas Barma has been appointed General Secretary of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee.

Rahul Gandhi to be back tomorrow ? (UPDATED)
Ms Sonia Gandhi has been operated upon successfully. Now Rahul Gandhi is expected to return to Delhi on Saturday.

BUREAUCRACY

Empanelment of 1981 batch IAS officers takes place
Empanelment of 1981 batch IAS officers to the rank of Additional Secretary in the Government of India has taken place.About four dozen officers of this batch reportedly figure in the list of empanelment.

ITPO Chairman did not get extension
Chairman of the ITPO Subas Pani did not get extension. Tenure of 1972 batch IAS officer Pani has come to an end.
( We said this on July 19 )

Acharya to be new JS Justice
Bidhu Prasad Acharya is being appointed Joint Secretary Justice in the Government of India. He is 1983 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

CMDE Prasad to be Director HSL !
CMDE K L N Prasad is being tipped to be new Director (Corporate Planning and Personnel) in the Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL).

Ms. Mugdha Sinha posted as OSD to Textiles Minister
Ms. Mugdha Sinha on central deputation has been posted as OSD to Indian Textiles Minister Anand Sharma. She is an IAS officer of 1999 batch who belongs to the Rajasthan cadre.

Unmesh Wagh to be PS MoS Coal
Unmesh Wagh is reportedly going to be PS to Union Minister of Coal P K Patil.He is an IRS officer.

B A Harish Gowda to be Secretary Karnataka's new CM
As the grapevine it B A Harish Gowda is tipped to be Secretary to Karnataka's new Chief Minister Sadanand Gowda. Presently he is Secretary in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies.He is an IAS officer of 1989 batch who belongs to the Karnataka cadre.

V. Murali to be SBI's CGM Kerala Circle
V. Murali has been posted Chief General Manager (CGM), Kerala Circle by the State Bank of India.

Ms. Renu Challu posted as SBI's DMD in Mumbai
Ms.Renu Challu has been posted as Deputy Managing Managing Director(DMD) Corporate strategy in the State Bank of India(SBI). Presently, she is Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of Hyderabad.

Arun Jha is new CVO BHEL
Arun Jha, presently working as Joint Secretary in the Department of Pharmacecticals has been appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer in the Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL). He is 1981 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Karnataka CS to continue
Chief Secretary to the Karnataka government S.V. Ranganath will not be changed under the regime of new Chief Minister Sadanand Gowda.He is an IAS officer of 1975 batch who belongs to the Karnataka cadre.

Karnataka DGP to continue
DGP to the Karnataka government will not be changed under the regime of new Chief Minister Sadanand Gowda.

Why did Dr. K. M. Abraham not take a farewell?
As the grapevine has it Dr. K. M. Abraham Member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) whose term as SEBI Member ended on July 20, 2011 did not take a farewell. Reason for his refusal is said to be his differences of opinion with SEBI chief U.K. Sinha. Dr. Abraham is an IAS officer of the 1982 batch who belongs to Kerala cadre.

Kaushik gets in-situ promotion
CSS officer Atul Kaushik has been given in-situ promotion as Joint Secretary Forests and Environment in the Government of India.

Race for post of DGP, Punjab has begun
A race has begun for the post of DGP in Punjab. As it is, present incumbent P.S. Gill who on inter cadre deputation is DGP with the Punjab Government is due to retire on September 30, 2011.

Naresh Kumar Sanghi to be a HC Judge
As the grapevine has it, Naresh Kumar Sanghi an advocate is going to be appointed as a judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court (HC), Chandigarh.

J.K. Sharma also in fray for the post of CMD, SJVN
As the grapevine has it, J.K. Sharma is one of the two main contenders for the post of CMD of the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN). Interviews will be held on August 7, 2011. Presently, Sharma is Director Projects in NHPC.

Maninder Singh going to the US
Maninder Singh is going on training to university La Sierra in USA for 6 months. He is an IAS officer of 1989 batch who belongs to the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Meena is IG BSF Tripura
P Meena has taken over as the Inspector General of Tripura Frontier of the Border Security Force. He is 1991 batch IPS officer.

UP DGP to get three months extension
Uttar Pradesh DGP Karamveer Singh is expected to get three months extension in service beginning September1.

IRS officer Rao empanelled as JS
IRS (IT) officer P V Rao who belongs to 1984 batch has been empanelled to the post of Joint Secretary or equivalent in the Government of India under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS).

C.A. Subrarnanian is now JS DOPST
C.A. Subrarnanian, Director in DOPST, has been promoted as Joint Secretary in the same Ministry on promotion. He is a CSS officer.

IA & AS officer Saurabh Shukla transferred
Saurabh Shukla, Deputy Director (Accounts), in the office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, New Delhi, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director (AMG-I/Fin/Rep), in the office of the Director General of Audit, Central Expenditure, New Delhi.

Brig. Harminder Singh nominated for 37th APPPA
Brig. Harminder Singh, CAFSO, Air Headquarters, New Delhi, has been nominated for the 37th Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) which commenced at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, on July 1, 2011. The programme includes detailed framework of conceptual and applied modules to enable professional exposure on public administration in Indian and international context.

Dr Khanna appointed Member
Dr Charu wali Khanna counsel for the union of India in Supreme court & a leading women's rights lawyer has been appointed Member of the National Commission for Women.

Pakistan : Frontier Constabulary gets police powers to curb Karachi violence
Alarmed at rising violence and street killings in Karachi the government of Sindh has decided to confer police powers on the Frontier Constabulary (FC) a paramilitary force of the federal government. The decision has been criticised by opposition politicians and security experts including some prominent police officers both serving and retired who have termed FC as 'a stranger to the Karachi dynamics' and have wanted the city police to be given a free hand in tackling the situation apart from addressing some basic issues of deficient manpower and lack of infrastructure and logistics being faced by it.

Liverpool University awards PhD to IPS officer, Sarangi
The University of Liverpool conferred PhD degree on Sudhanshu Sarangi, IPS officer at a function in Liverpool, UK recently. Sarangi did his PhD on the subject "Psychological pathways in Militant Jihad" based on detailed interviews and psychological assessment of 49 persons involved in major terror crimes including 14 Pakistani and 35 Indian nationals. A former British Chevening scholar, he did his Masters in Investigative Psychology from Centre for Investigative Psychology, University of Liverpool. He has three academic publications and has lectured widely to police officers and academics in UK and worked as a trainer for the British Police including the London Metropolitan Police, Scotland Yard. Sudhanshu Sarangi is an IPS officer of the 1990 batch who belongs to Orissa cadre. He is presently posted as Chairman and Managing Director of Orissa State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation.

MP cadre Secretary level officers and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh had a breakfast meeting with MP cadre Secretary level officers in Delhi on Thursday.Those enjoyed breakfast include Ms Alka Sirohi,Ms Anshu Vaish,Jaimini Sharma,Sumit Bose,Ajoy Acharya,D R S Chaudhary and Vishwapati Trivedi.

Jyotiraditya Scindia hosts dinner to MP cadre officers
Minister of State Commerce Jyotiraditya Scindia hosted a dinner on Thursday to Madhya Pradesh cadre officers posted in Delhi.

IAS postings in Jharkhand
K Vidyasagar has been appointed Health Secretary of the State. Vimal Kirti Singh will now be the principal Secretary of the Energy department. Singh will hold additional charge of the OSD at Jharkhand Bhawan in New Delhi.

TERI's admission to 5th MA in Public Policy and Sustainable Development is on
TERI University announces admissions for the 5th MA in Public Policy and Sustainable Development. The programme, sponsored by DoPT, is suited for mid career civil servants and professionals in the corporate sector. The curriculum comprises of two semesters of course work at the New Delhi campus, 6 weeks training at reputed Universities abroad on select modules on public policy and one year major project at the place of posting. The last date for application is 10th October, 2011. The session commences on 9th January, 2012. Further details are available at TERI
University website www.teriuniversity.ac.in

Congress to organize prayer meeting to wish their leader speedy recovery (UPDATED)
It is heard in the Congress circles that prayer meeting will be organized in various states and centers to wish UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi a speedy recovery.

Hamid Ali Rao is new Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (UPDATED)
Hamid Ali Rao, presently Ambassador and permanent Representative of India to the UN Conference on Disarmament, Geneva has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in succession to Talmiz Ahmad.
( We said this on May 24 )

Goa Government to launch unique health insurance scheme (UPDATED)
Goa Government being headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat is going to launch a unique health insurance for all Goanese.It will cover all such people who have
stayed in Goa for at least five years. For this a tie up with the ICICI Lombard has been done by the Goa Government. Every eligible Goanese will get health iunsurance cover of Rs.60000 and that too irrespective of his/her income.The scheme to be launched
from August 15, 2011will be christened "Swarn Jayanti Beema Yojana".

Will the stay order in Bellary - Hospet mining region affect the GDP growth? (UPDATED)
Closure of operations in Bellary - Hospet region could cost the country around
$ 8.5 billion of GDP loss say sources in the steel ministry. The ore produced from the region is consumed by key manufacturers like Tata Metaliks, Kalyani Steel, Mukund Iron and Steel besides JSW.

CORPORATE

Anurag Jain is Nominee Director, Punjab National Bank
The Union Government has nominated Anurag Jain, Joint Secretary, Department of Financial Services, as Government Nominee Director on the Board of Punjab National Bank with immediate effect.

Bhagavantha Rao appointed as MD, State Bank of Hyderabad
Bhagavantha Rao Deputy Managing Director in the State Bank of India (SBI) who is in charge of Madhya Pradesh Circle has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of Hyderabad.

P. Nand Kumaran appointed as MD, State Bank of Travancore
P. Nand Kumaran Deputy Managing Director in the State Bank of India (SBI) who is who is in charge of Gujarat Circle has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of Travancore(SBT).

Sushil Kumar Mishra to be SBI's CGM Bhopal Circle
Sushil Kumar Mishra who is presently in Delhi has been posted Chief General Manager (CGM),Bhopal Circle by the State Bank of India.

R.R. Saraf to be SBI's CGM Ahmedabad Circle
R.R. Saraf who is presently in Mumbai Corporate Centre has been posted Chief General Manager (CGM), Ahmedabad Circle by the State Bank of India.

Datta is new Director (Refineries) BPCL
B K Datta has taken over as Director (Refineries ) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

Dua appointed Nominee Director, Shah Alloys Ltd
Union Bank of India has nominated O.P. Dua as Nominee Director on the Board of Shah Alloys Ltd w.e.f August 4, 2011.

Shroff ceases to be Company Secy. Tata Power Company Ltd
B J Shroff has ceased to be Company Secretary of Tata Power Company Ltd w.e.f. July 31, 2011.

Mistry appointed Company Secy. Tata Power Company Ltd
Tata Power Company Ltd has appointed H M Mistry as the Company Secretary effective August 1, 2011.

Greville resigns as Non Exec. Director, HT Media Ltd
Roger Greville, Non-executive Independent Director of HT Media Ltd has resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company w.e.f. August 1, 2011.

Prasad ceases to be Director, Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd
Ms Sarita Prasad, Non-official Part-time Director, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd ceased to be Director on Board of the company on completion of her tenure on August 3, 2011.

Sharma to rejoin Zee Entertainment Enterprises as Deputy VP & National Head
Sulekha Sharma has is to rejoin Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) as Deputy Vice President and National Head, Ad Sales.

Deshpande resigns as Whole-time Director, EIMCO Elecon (India) Ltd
A. M. Deshpande , Whole-time Director EIMCO Elecon (India) Ltd has resigned. He will be relieved on August 31, 2011.

Acharya is Nominee Director, State Bank of Travancore
Shayamal Acharya, Deputy Managing Director & Group Executive (Associates & Subsidiaries), State Bank of India has been nominated as Director Board Member of State Bank of Travancore Ltd with effect from July 1, 2011.

Pillai resigns from United Breweries (Holdings) Board
The Board of United Breweries (Holdings) Limited has on August 2, 2011 accepted the resignation of R N Pillai as Director of the Company w.e.f. August 02, 2011.

Rekhi appointed Non Exec. Director, United Breweries Ltd
The Board of United Breweries Ltd has appointed V K Rekhi as a Non-Executive Director liable to retirement by rotation.

Mehta appointed Addl. Director, Refex Refrigerants Ltd
Refex Refrigerants Limited has appointed Sumarmal Mehta as an Additional Director of the company.

Srivastava appointed Joint MD, Phoenix Mills Ltd
The Phoenix Mills Limited has appointed Shishir Srivastava as Joint Managing Director of the Company for a period of five years with effect from July 30, 2011.

Naqvi appointed ED, Novopan Industries Ltd
Novopan Industries Limited has S A Naqvi as the Executive Director of the Company for a period of two years w.e.f. August 2, 2011.

Bhave appointed Company Secy. KSB Pumps
KSB Pumps Limited has appointed Mahesh G. Bhave as its new Company Secretary .

Chaujar appointed Nominee Director, Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd
The Dhampur Sugar Mills Limited has appointed R. K. Chaujar, Nominee Director on behalf of Punjab National Bank.

Kanga resigns as Non Exec. Director, Archies Ltd
Rohinton H. Kanga, Non-Executive Director of the Company has resigned from Board of Directors of Archies Ltd due to health problems w.e.f. August 1, 2011.

Mahajan appointed Director, Saint Gobain Sekurit India Ltd
Saint Gobain Sekurit India Ltd has appointed A. Y. Mahajan as a Director of the Company.

Uniform retirement age for all incongruent

At the entry stage, different age requirements are there for different jobs in government. Different qualification requirements are there. Different level of effort and time is required to be successful to enter. Capabilities of people in different grades are different. Therefore concept of uniform retirement age for all is incongruent.

Government has rightly increased the retirement age of schoolteachers but not rest of staff, increased for college teachers but not rest of staff, doctors, but not staff, judges but not staff, scientists but not staff. In armed forces retirement age varies grade wise. Similarly, government should make retirement age for PB4 as 65 years.

Mani

Why are only junior Chief Commissioners given important charge ?

Why are only junior Chief Commissioners posted to important charges and seniors posted to nondescript charges in CBDT and CBEC? Newly promoted Chief Commissioners are given the most important charges and Chief Commissioners of three years vintage posted to the least important charges. Why is seniority given the short shrift always? The junior Chief Commissioners should wait for their turn instead of jumping the queue.

Vijay Kumar

Why this lament ?

hy is there, every now and then, a lament on this site about junior Chief Commissioners taking precedence over senior Chief Commissioners in CBEC/CBDT? Why should seniority be the only criterion for postings? A Chief Commissioner of the CBEC/ CBDT is a Chief Commissioner and inter-se seniority should not matter in postings.

Arjun Mallick

Cases registered by CBI in 2011

Why only 2 cases registered by CBI against IPS officers in 2011 as against 12 against IAS officers and 16 against IRS. Is it because IPS officers are less corrupt? No it is because the anti corruption machinery is manned by IPS officers at central as well as state level. It is well known that IPS officers sitting as watchdog of corruption go soft on their own cadre. It is high time anti corruption body is manned by officers from all services and is headed by an independent person or committee.

Ravinder

PSO/Sr. PPS don't leave office at 5.30 p.m.

I do not agree with Raju that PSO/Sr. PPS leave office at 5.30 p.m. In the last about 10 years I have never left office at 5.30 p.m. whether officer is present or not. On the contrary we sit late till officer is in office and sometimes to wind up the office after day's work. The work is always time bound and full attention is to be given to minute details. As regards promotion the DOPT has recently promoted many officials to higher grades. The option of limited competitive examination is always open.

Shiv Shankar

Partially true

What Rita said about promotion of Grade 'D' Stenographers is not true. In the cadre of CSS, there is no examination for departmental candidates and the policy is by direct Assistants Grade exam and by promotion whereas in CSSS, there is Steno Grade 'C' exam, departmental exam and part of vacancies are filled by promotion which results in stagnation among Steno Grade 'D' of CSSS cadre which is the feeder cadre. Due to shortage of vacancies, promotions are not given to the feeder grade employees as their number is more and remains stagnating even after putting more than 25 years of continuous regular service and many of them retires where they are appointed without getting even a single promotion without any fault of theirs. But persons, unfortunately, who could not clear the departmental tests because of many compelling reasons, like improper grading in the ACRs due to which despite clearing shorthand part or may be some other reasons; they have also a right equal to other similarly placed feeder grade employees to get the promotion. Here a poor Grade 'D' Stenographer spends 25 years on the same post, is he not eligible for next promotion? 25 years are too much. Does that mean a stenographer did not pass a test, should die on his seat? Many a Lower Division Clerks on his own turn became a Section Officer, a post equivalent to a Private Secretary, without passing any departmental exam. After all, a Stenographer is above an LDC. Moreover, many LDCs chose to take up exam for stenographer and became Steno Grade 'D'. What is the fault if an LDC joins to the cadre of Steno Grade 'D', does he become ineligible after qualifying stenographer examination. It is a big injustice against the Grade 'D' Stenographers who have not been given promotion even after two decades. Naturally, they will be wary about pushing and bossing by PSOs for the sake of it. All the Grade 'D' Stenographers who have completed more than 20 years of service should be given double promotion after amending Rules as an exceptional case, then only we can say balance of justice is met. Why not all those who are working on ad-hoc basis, given regular promotion from the date of ad-hoc promotion, as regular promotion is only a formality as they are working on ad-hoc on same post, moreover there is no financial benefit or difference then what is the hitch in regularising them. DOPT mandarin please listen.

N K Luthra

DOPT Sleeping on re-employment in Ministry of Finance

Government should ban all kinds of extensions/ consultancy/ re-employments, which are normally given to the near and dear ones. Nobody is indispensable in government of India. It is transpired that there are offices like Custodian office under the Ministry of Finance, where many posts had/have been manned through re-employed staff. There are certain officials who have crossed the age of 70 years and continued as re-employed for more than 10 years. In other ministries/ departments, very capable officers fail to get even 6 months extension. The Ministry of Finance/DOPT should issue guidelines for immediate stopping of re-employments after retirements. In no circumstances, officials should be kept on re-employment. If any office keeps them, there may be silly excuses/reasons for retaining such re-employed officials. This is also a kind of corruption. The sanctioned strength should be reviewed from time to time with reference to the quantum of work in office, which is rarely happened in Government.

Meenakshi Verma

Dangerous officers

Officers who don't take quick decisions based on the powers allotted to them and then try to procrastinate things are more dangerous. You may not known whether they are honest or corrupt.

A Srivastava

Childish writings

All this writing about that service being inferior and another being superior appears so childish. There is no end to grievances, if IRS claims it contributes to govt by way of collection of taxes, the credit for this should to the DDO's of all government departments. Similarly, if Audit thinks they are great then all of us are aware of the 'Khathirdaari' being done to these guys when they are auditing. Let us accept the amazing fact that the country is actually run by all Central Services be it the Railways, Communication, Defence, Taxes, Duties, Audit etc, each and every Central Service contributes to the Nation's growth and lets feel proud about that and yes facts should be verified before they are put up on Whispers.1994 batch of IP&TAFS has not got SAG promotion. The Accounts & Finance in Postal takes care of the accounts, audit and render Financial Advice, Scams happens when this advice is over ruled like it happened in 2G in DOT and not because of posts or promotions. For those who want to make money, IRS need not be the only service they can do it anywhere. For corrupt no service is inferior or superior and promotions is just a cadre issue !

AR

CGHS has outlived its utility

The CGHS has far outlived its utility. The facilities, infrastructure, filth make you feel as if you have suddenly stepped into some mofussil town medical facility. The procedures are cumbersome and the doctors deny prescribing even your routine tests i.e. thyroid etc which is required to be undertaken every three months. For a chest infection ,the doctors are loath to carry out the patients chest examination ,examination of the throat etc and prefer to make their deductions on the basis of cursorily looking at the face of the patients. Their stetho is conspicuous by its absence. The BP instrument, if at all available, is generally faulty.What is this Torture we Beneficiaries are being made to undergo for no crime we have committed?

Shobha

Condition in CGHS has worsened after computerisation

Shiv Shankar pointed out that "The atmosphere in CGHS dispensaries is so disgusted that one shudders to visit the so called Wellness Centres." As a matter of fact, the condition has worsened after computerisation. The tablets are dispensed from open bottles, by hand, counting to 30 days dosage. Next month, the days are counted by calendar month to the exact date. So for 31 days months, you loose one day. This 3 percent loot is into whose pockets?

C N White

CGHS: Central Govt Harassment Service

There have been enough debate. I am of the strong opinion It cant be reformed. High time to disband it. All present dispensaries be open to general public. Government employees and pensioners be attached to reputed private hospitals of their choice both for OPD and all kinds of hospitalisation. Earlier the better.

A retired IAS officer

Why is it so ?

Why is it that despite almost everyone working in Government is unhappy with the way CGHS system works, Ministry of Health is taking no cognizance and is literally not interested in reforming CGHS? Are the vested interest so strong that Ministry has become numb to the problems of poor patients who have to deal with utterly useless CGHS system?

MB

Pathetic condition of Sena Bhawan

I wish to draw your attention to the pathetic condition of Sena Bhawan. In the name of modernization a lot of inconvenience is being faced by the employees here. The work is going on for last three years here and the earlier famous General Kapoor inaugurated the modernised building when it was not even 10 percent complete. There is filth everywhere. Wires are hanging loose and it is a big fire hazard. Will the authorities awake only after a big mishap occurs here? People smoke inside offices and in the corridors. Has anybody heard of dogs roaming free on the 5th floor of any other government building?

Nandan

Finest officer

Mrs. Khan is one of the finest officers. As Director she was able to launch new programmes such as Mega Camps and Adventure programmes. She has also taken new initiatives. But as the Top Most level officers of the National Service Scheme as Programme Adviser, the organisation expects a lot from her. She has to totally revamp the organisation and post suitable officer known for integrity and honest as Heads of Regional Centres. Large States like Maharashtra is really looking forward to new changes. Similarly, State Governments should be advised to adhere to the guidelines and Universities perform better. We wish her all the best and hope she will definitely excel in her new assignment.

Dr V K Sharma

Congrats to Satyender Garg

I would congratulate Satyender Garg Joint CP Delhi Police for the excellent work he is doing for the traffic management in the City. I am particularly impressed the way he has got the city rid of 'beacon' menance. Results of his efforts are visible in all ministries in GoI and GoNCT of Delhi where now almost all vehicles excepting the entitled ones are without their beautiful 'beacons'. Well done Garg. I hope rest of your colleagues across the country take cue from you and make this country free of these feudal vestiges and restore the self-esteem of a common citizen.

MB

Opinion given by Ministry of Law and Justice

The Appellant sought information regarding the legal opinion provided by the Ministry of Law & Justice in respect of an incident for which action is being contemplated against Shri Pranav Kumar (IAS 2008 Batch, Bihar Cadre) under Rule 12 (d) of the IAS (Probation) Rules, 1954. The Ministry of Law informed the CIC that its opinion on any given issue is tendered on the file received from the concerned department. This opinion becomes a part of the File which is eventually returned to the Department concerned. The Commission clarified that the records of any advice / opinion tendered by the Ministry to other Government Departments do not fall under the category of fiduciary capacity and Section 8 (1) (e) is not attracted. The Commission held that the decision in respect of disclosure of the legal opinion given by the Law Ministry to the concerned under the RTI Act, has to be made by the Department seeking that advice.

Comments

There exists a two-way channel connecting the Law Ministry with any other Department of the Central Government. On one way, the File seeking opinion travels from the concerned Department to the Law Ministry and on the other way, the opinion tendered on that File travels from the Ministry of Law to the concerned Department. If the advice given by the Law Ministry is accepted as fiduciary, then such information which will never be disclosed in any contingency u/s 8 (1) (e) of the RTI Act even if the concerned Department is willing to disclose such opinion which is under its control.

[Shri Rajiv Ranjan Verma v. Ministry of Law and Justice in Appeal No.CIC/SS/A/2011/000886].

- 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)