I regularly visit your website. The whispers given on the website are so accurate that they should be called CURRENT NEWS than calling them WHISPERS. These (accurate) whispers have removed rumours (negative energy) and rumour mongers from the corridors, which in turn is also increasing the working efficiency in the offices. I admire you for your capabilities.

Rajesh Bahal

Contact-suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com> &

<mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com>

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Sushma is soft on PM and on him Jaitley has gone ballistic!!

To 'singular response policy' seems these two refuse to stick!!!

That's because both of them eye PM's chair if BJP 'makes it'!!!

And to further their chances both are doing their bit!!

Though Sushma blames it on word limitations on Twitter!!!!

Couldn't she find a excuse that would be more fitter????

Thomas is refusing to go!!!

He should have resigned after SC's Order but he's saying 'no'!!!

He's being egged on by PC not to obey SC's order!!

On contempt of Court doesn't his saying 'no' border????

President can sack him but Madam President's not got the okay from Congress's Boss!!!

And on her own 'the invisible Laxman rekha' she refuses to cross!!!

Laxman rekha prohibits her from taking certain decisions without Madam's permission!

And if she does this it'll be like an 'act of omission'!

HC Court has acceded to CBI's plea to close Q's case!!

On Videshi Courts refusing Q's extradition the acquittal plea CBI did base!!

Dawood may site this as a precedence and say cases against him should be dropped too!!

I'm sure every Indian at HC's order to close Q's cases will boo!!

Mark my words the Judge who gave this order will 'make it big' as when Congress is in power!

His career as a Judge in Congress rule is bound to flower!!

Ex CJI Balu says he still not seen the IT report which says his relatives have kaala dhan!

From his current NHRC post he should be evicted and pronto this should be done!

Why is Government not doing so??????

This step requires Mohna's permission.... is he delaying or has he said no????

And we know Mohna on such issues will run to take Sonia's permission!!

Has Sonia said no or is just delaying her decision????

If UPA wants to gain some of its lost credibility!!!!

Then to take action against the tainted it should show its ability!!

At present the perception is UPA is a 'den of thieves'!!!

As all of them have their hands in scams so no action is being taken is what the Public believes!

Kalmadi says CBI's found nothing during its raid!!!!

If timely raids were carried in 'tonnes of proof today CBI karti wade'!!!

This was the plan.... give Kalmadi time to effect a clean up!!!

And when CBI raids and finds nothing Kalmadi will say allegations were Media's gupp!!

This only can be done if High Command is on your side!!!

You can thumb your nose at the Nation after taking the Nation for a ride!!

Tytler has been made Orissa in-charge!!!

Madam is least bit bothered about 'against him the instigating a genocide charge'!!!

And I recall her son announcing in Punjab 'guilty will not be spared'!!!

For his role in the 1984 genocide with a 'jalaad' he has been paired!!

And fact of the matter is Madam and her son know about Tytler's 'macabre' role!!!

Or is it possible once one becomes a Neta one looses one's soul?????

Confucius says....Soulless one does not bother about truth and humaneness they say!

This is why Tytler and Kamalnath for their macabre deeds are not being made to pay!

Flash...... DMK is more perturbed about Congress choosing the seats!!!!

And now perception in DMK is no longer out of Karuna's hand Congress eats!!

There was a time Karuna sneezed and a Congress Leader rushed to TN with a handkerchief!

No longer Congress treats Karuna the same way is DMK's belief!!

And now DMK wants an undertaking from Congress that Kanimozhi's status will change!!

She will be treated like a Holy Cow and for CBI will be out of range!!!

Bharat Kumar
aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

Secretary level changes after Budget Session of Parliament ?
The Prime Minister is in a mood to enact certain Secretary level changes in the Government of India. A couple of important ministries are going to be affected.

Will any Secretary in GoI be repatriated
If top sources are to be believed a few Secretaries in the Government of India may be repatriated to their respective parent cadre.

Nair to continue with PM !
Though rumour mill says that Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, T K A Nair, is going as Governor, insiders feel as long as Manmohan Singh is PM the later is going to stay with him in the same capacity.

Proposal of U S Bhatia turned down
A proposal to appoint U S Bhatia as Administrator of the SUUTI has been turned down.Bhatia is retired 1974 batch IAS officer of Orissa cadre.

CSB to meet today
The Central Selection Board will be meeting on March 7, 2011.

Who will coordinate working of all intelligence agencies
Union Home Minister wants coordination between the working of all intelligence agencies but the question is that who will head any such body constituted for the purpose. Chances are that the outgoing RAW Chief, KC Verma may lead the show.

Acting CVC to be appointed this week
An acting Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) is being appointed this week. One of the two Vigilance Commissioners, former Karnataka Police Chief R Srikumar and Chairman of Corporation Bank J M Garg, will be made the CVC till a new CVC is appointed.

Dharni Mishra is new Director (PR) CBI
Dharni Mishra is joining as new Director (PR) in the CBI on Monday. Dharni is 1993 batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer.

B.K. Mishra to be CMD, CCI
B.K. Mishra, Director & FA, National Textile Corporation (NTC) has been appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).

B.V. Selvaraj proceeds on a long leave
B.V. Selvaraj who is now posted as Principal Secretary (PS) General Administration department (GAD) in Delhi government has proceeded on a long leave. As the grapevine has it he has done so because he was not posted as the PS Home in Delhi government despite his being the senior
most IAS of the AGMU cadre in Delhi government. He is an IAS officer of the1981 batch who belongs to AGMU cadre.

Home Minister's reply reaches Delhi CM
Chief Minister of Delhi Ms. Sheila Dixit had written a letter to Ministry of Home Affairs regarding last transfers/postings of IAS & IPS officers out side the Delhi. Its reply has been given by P.Chidambaram central Minister for Home Affairs.

Three new Additional Secretaries in CVC ?
There is a proposal to appoint three new Additional Secretaries in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

Ashok Kumar Meena appointed Director, DoPT
Ashok Kumar Meena on central deputation has been appointed as Director (CBI Desk); DOPT in place of Ms.Manisha Saxena.He is an IAS officer of the1993 batch who belongs to the Orissa cadre.

Dheeraj Kumar appointed as Director, Minority Affairs
Dheeraj Kumar on central deputation has been has been appointed as Director, Ministry of Minority Affairs in place of A K Sobti IA&AS 1995.He is an IAS officer of the1983 batch who belongs to the Tamil Nadu cadre.

3 IG level posts vacant in MoEF
As many as three IG level vacancies are there in the central government's Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF).

Dr. D.K. Bhalla soon to join as Joint Secretary Food
Dr. Devinder Kumar Bhalla Delhi based Resident Commissioner (RC) with the Nagaland government who on central deputation has been posted as a Joint Secretary in the Food Ministry is going join at new place soon. He is an IAS officer of the1986 batch who belongs to the Nagaland cadre. It may be stated that Dr. Bhalla has done his Ph.D. on the theme of "Sustainable Strategies for Tourism Development in Nagaland." He has over 29 years experience in various fields including over 23 years as an IAS officer. It may be stated that from 1995 to 1999 he had served as a Director in the central government's Rural Development (RD) Ministry. During that period he was in the Rajiv Gandhi drinking water mission and later on in land reforms division. To his credit he has the maiden white paper on digitization of land records. It was sent to all sate governments. This also served as the base paper for most of the work that different state governments including Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh did for digitization of land records and other purposes. It is hoped that he will bring this expertise to food ministry and help in solving various problems linked with food chain management in the country.

Jyoti Kalash to be RC Nagaland in Delhi
As the grapevine has as it, Jyoti Kalash - an IAS officer of 1990 batch of Nagaland cadre is poised to be new Resident Commissioner (RC) of Nagaland government in Delhi. At present on central deputation he is a Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

O.P. Mishra to look after charge of East District
O.P. Mishra, Additional DCP (South East District) will look after the charge of East District. He is DANIPS cadre officer of the1987 batch ho belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Virender Singh Chahal to stay in Delhi till June
Virender Singh Chahal, DIG/DCP, South East District who has been transferred to Mizoram will stay on present post till June 2011.He is an IPS officer of the1991 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

IAS, IPS officers in MP protest shifting of DIG Gwalior
In a rare show of solidarity, IAS A has joined IPS Association to lodge protests to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan against the way Pankaj Shrivastava (1992 IPS MP) was swiftly attached to Bhopal from the post of range DIG Gwalior. The entire MP police, retired civil servants and MPs are supporting and have protested in their own ways including press statements. A nondescript incidence of checking an unnumbered and beacon light fitted vehicle which occurred on the night of March 1, 2011 was allegedly twisted and blown out of proportion by judicial service members threatening to go on a strike just to get the involved vehicle unrecorded and untraced, and subsequently to scare the entire department to pre-empt any probe about it.

CCI chief to retire in June
Dhanendra Kumar Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is due to retire in June 2011.

Mid career training for IRS officer
Mid career training for IRS officers belonging to batches of 1990 and 1991 will commence at MDI, Gurgaon on March 21, 2011. Besides, MDI they will undergo one week's training at Duke University of USA.

LIC Chairman -3 insiders in fray
If selection for new LIC Chairman is done from the within then here are three candidates: They are: T. Mathew, D.K. Mehrotra and Arun Kanti Dasgupta.

Mishra empanelled as JS
R Mishra has been empanelled to the rank of Joint Secretary in the Government of India. He is 1985 batch Indian Postal Service Officer.

GDP estimates were released in the absence of CSI !
The much publicized new series of Consumer Price Index Number was released on 18th February 2011, but surprisingly in the absence of Chief Statistician of India. What could be the reason ?

Chavan stays transfer of MTDC MD Kiran Kurundkar
Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan has stayed Kiran Kurundkar's, current MTDC MD, transfer. CM had transfered Kiran Kurundkar to Wardha as Zilla parishad CEO. Transfer happened due to the wrong information received to CM's office that MD has been on that post for last four years where as the fact is Kiran Kurundkar serving as MD only for last four months. Public Works & tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal took the initiative to bring the truth to CM and transfer stopped.

Two bureaucrats in Maharashtra transferred within six months
Two bureaucrats in Maharashtra have been transferred within six momnths. While Transport and Excise Secretary Ashwini Kumar who was on the post since November last, has been transferred to Revenue (Appeals), Pune Collector Chandrakant Dalvi - serving as Director General of Yashwantrao Chavan Institution of Developmental Administration (YASHADA ) from January 1 - has been transferred as Settlement Commissioner, Land Records.

Shahbaz Bhatti's church service marred by protests
The funeral service for the late Shahbaz Bhatti held at Islamabad's lady Fatima church on Friday witnessed some ugly scenes when some 200 members of the Christian community and a large number of workers belonging to the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) headed by the slain Minister who had come from far flung areas of the country shouted slogans on being denied entry into the church by Forces deployed in large numbers because of security concerns for Prime Minister Geelani who was present inside the church building. The protestors were allowed to enter the church only after the PM left but it was too late by then as the slain minister's body had already been flown to his native place in a chopper and the crowds couldn't 'see his face or place wreaths on his body'.

Madras HC sets aside 83 selections in TNPSC, 2000-01
In a rare order the Madras High Court set aside selection and appointment of 83 candidates in Group I services who cleared the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) examinations for the year 2000-2001 for indulging in "malpractices" and "violating instructions". Observing that 83 of the 91 candidates selected had violated the instructions the two member HC bench directed the TNPSC to revalue the answer sheets of only candidates who had not violated any instructions

AP relieves Mohanty for GoI posting
The AP Government has relieved Satyanarayana Mohanty Officer on Special Duty, A.P. Bhawan, New Delhi for posting to the GoI as Adviser, Rural Development (Joint Secretary level). He is an IAS officer of the 1980 batch who hails from Andhra Pradesh cadre.

AP extends deputation term of IFS officer Srivasuki
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to extend the deputation term of Dr. K.P.Srivasuki, Chief Executive Officer, State Level Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board, Hyderabad for two more years w.e.f. April 12, 2011. He is an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer of the 1982 batch.

Jayesh Ranjan, B. Srinivas to participate in "International Tourism Bourse, 2011", Berlin
Secretary Tourism, Govt of Andhra Pradesh Jayesh Ranjan will be participating in the "International Tourism Bourse, 2011" at Berlin from March 9 to 13, 2011. He is an IAS officer of the 1992 batch who hails from the Andhra Pradesh cadre. The Executive Director (Personnel) APTDC, B. Srinivas (IFS) will also accompany Jayesh Ranjan.

AP creates ex-cadre post of Sepcial Secretary, Energy
The AP government has sanctioned the creation of an ex-cadre post of Special Secretary to the Govt, Egergy Department equivalent in status and responsibilities to the cadre post of Chief Conservator of Forests borne on IFS cadre from the state.

Munindra to be Spl Secretary, Energy AP
Munindra, Executive Director, A.P.State Housing Corporation, Hyderabad will take over as the Special Secretary to Government, Energy Department. He is an IFS officer of the 1986 batch who hails from the AP cadre.

Kerala IT delegation led by Ishita Roy visits Germany
A delegation of the Information Technology department of Kerala headed by the Director State IT Mission, Ishita Roy (IAS) is in Germany to participate in the CeBIT 2011, the international IT fair at Hannover. The delegation comprising Mervin Alexander, Chief Executive Officer, Technopark; Binu Pazhoor, Chief Executive Officer, Infopark held discussions to formalise plans for collaboration with PRE Park in Kaiserslautern.

Abraham transferred as Director, Stationery and Printing
T. Abraham, Deputy Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, Tamil Nadu is transferred as Director, Stationery and Printing. He is an IAS officer of the 2003 batch who belongs to Tamil Nadu cadre.

DEBATE

ARE PEOPLE LOSING INTEREST IN DEFENCE SERVICES THESE DAYS ?

What do you think? Why people are losing interest in Defence Services? Have they lost attraction because they are no more that lucrative as they have been earlier or there is a decline of 'nationalism' among the people of country these days. There is a shortage of over 12,000 officers at the junior and the middle rung alone in the Defence services in the country.

Mail your 'to the point' views in brief at

suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com or mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com

CORPORATE

Who will be winner in Petroleum ?
Till now there is a monopoly of Mukesh Ambani in petroleum sector. Now another big player Anil Agrawal of Vedanta Group has also jumped in the fray. There can't be two players in this field. Who will be the winner ?.

Ajay Shankar appointed as a part time Director, HAL.
Ajay Shankar, an Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer of the 1973 batch & ex-Secretary to Government of India has been appointed as part time non official Director, HAL.

Shah appointed President-strategic initiatives in Axis Bank
Nilesh Shah has been appointed President-strategic initiatives in Axis Bank's Corporate Banking Division. Earlier he was with the ICICI Prudential MF.

Jae-Sang Lee is Director, Korea Tourism Organisation in India
Jae-Sang Lee has been appointed Director of Korea Tourism Organisation in India. He will be responsible for branding and promoting Korea besides developing new tourist products for the Indian market. He will also be in charge of building and strengthening relationship between the travel trade between the two countries.

Harsh Mariwala appointed FICCI' President
Marico Industries chairman Harsh Mariwala has taken over as President of FICCI.

Kanoria is FICCI' Sr. Vice President
The CMD of Kanoria Chemicals & Industries, R V Kanoria is Sr. Vice President of FICCI

Naina Lal Kidwai is FICCI' Vice President
Naina Lal Kidwai, Group GM & the country head of HSBC is Vice President of FICCI

Kondicas is Vice President Abacus International
Abacus International has announced the appointment of Danny Kondicas as its Vice President-Channel Management. Kondic has over 20 years of top level experience in the travel industry. Starting with Qantas in Sydney, Kondic has held senior positions in Malaysia Airlines, Kuoni Travel & Gullivers Travel Associates.

Sunny Sodhi appointed Vice-President, Airproduct, yatra.com
Sunny Sodhi has been appointed Vice-President, Airproduct, yatra.com. Prior to this, he was with Kuoni Business Travel India as Senior Vice President & prior to that with Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

Dhawan to quit ChrysCapital Investment
Ashish Dhawan, the founder of ChrysCapital Investment Advisors, a private equity firm, is quitting the firm in July next year.

Khaitan and Bajpai cease to be directors of Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Ind.
P.K. Khaitan and G. N. Bajpai have ceased to be Directors of Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Ltd owing to their resignation from the Directorship of the Company.

Dubovskov appointed President & CEO, MTS
MTS (Mobile TeleSystems) has appointed Andrei Dubovskov as its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) while replacing Mikhail Shamolin who was with the company since May 2008.

Lowe Lintas appoints Chief Growth Officer
Lowe Lintas India has appointed Sabyasachi Mishra as its Chief Growth Officer.

Moore appointed COO, Cisco Systems Inc.
Cisco Systems Inc has appointed Gary Moore as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Morris to join Sony Music Entertainment as CEO
Doug Morris, the ex-chief of Universal Music Group is to join Sony Music Entertainment as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from July 1, 2011.

FORUM

(DEBATE)

A few years ago I had gone on a training to England. People there were bothered that young generation is not taking up subjects of Science and Maths and that they envy India. Most of them were opting for BBA/MBA. Recently, I had accompanied my wife, who is a school teacher, for census duty in one of the posh colonies of South Delhi. In one of the houses we were asked by young girl, who was an MBA and working as an Executive in Vodafone, as to what is census. This shows that we are also marching towards the same direction. If you ask the young generations about the latest brands of cars, mobile phones, clothes etc., they will tell you soon. The young generation of today doesn't know anything about the word 'sacrifice' and is surviving because of the hard earned money of their parents. Most of them are working in multinationals, software companies, call centres etc. with no sense of responsibility. They need fast buck. Many of them are suffering from diabetes and blood pressure. In such a scenario how do you expect the present crop of young generation to join 'Defence Services'. I think that mankind is doomed.

Anurag Srivastava

MJ Akabar's worry !

As per unconfirmed reports India Today is learnt to be seriously considering bringing out a new publication titled Scams Today as their weekly magazine India TODAY doesn't have enough space to do full justice to all the scams happening. Further as per the revenue model / projections, this weekly magazine will break even from the first issue itself even without any advertisement revenue and contributors will consist of whistle blowers who will provide facts /information free of cost. But only risk factor learnt to be bothering MJ Akbar is that such a publication may not lower the annual rate of growth (GDP).

Sudhir Chopra

Logically Cabinet Secretariat is to be blamed

Both the PM and HM are veterans. Many a senior officers, based on notes of the Cabinet Secretariat, would have been denied promotion on grounds of pending vigilance or departmental inquiries. Irrespective of the merits in the Palmolein case, Thomas on record had a charge sheet against him. The Kerala High Court had not overturned it. He was perhaps promoted as Additional Secretary and Secretary in GoI against established norms. Sanction for prosecution must have been pending in GoI due to the stay.

If the PM and the HM were not made aware by the normal process in writing of the ineligibility of the candidate, the direct blame would logically lie on the Cabinet Secretariat (unless advise had been tendered and overruled) and on the PMO and the President's Office. The Cabinet Secretary comes from the same cadre of Thomas and can be reasonably expected to be aware of all essentials.

No, it would be dishonest to dismiss the matter as an error or as a system failure. It would be unfair to talk of judicial activism. The issue is of puppets and puppeteers.

Maitrey

Independence of Civil Services

A group of 82 Ex-bureaucrats have filed a PIL in the Supreme Court asking for freeing the Bureaucracy from the vice like grip of politicians.

The list of petitioners, who have together put in over 2500 man years of public service at the very highest level, reads like the who's who of India's Civil Service Elite. What, however, bugs one is why these people maintained a studied silence when in service? Well, better late than never.

The pincer like grip of politicians has really emasculated the Civil Services. But, the blame should lie on both, Bureaucrats as well as politicians. Who are the people who so willingly accept assignments like Private Secretaries to Ministers in the Central Government? In fact most of them belong to the cozy club started back in the States where politicians mingle with and pick up Civil the ever willing servants for fostering a not so honest partnership - something akin to concubines! Once the deal is struck, it often becomes a life long partnership - a symbiosis borne our of mutual needs' satisfaction.

Back in the States, it is a more open arrangement even for All India Services. These days, 'attractive' job positions invariably go to 'the highest bidders' If an officer has a proven record of doubtful integrity, he is picked up like hot cake for the jobs which provide bread and butter both to the Minister concerned as well to the election kitty. And it keeps happening under the very eyes of HONEST CMs and watchful CSs! It's time someone had a close look at the pattern of transfers and postings both for All India Services as well as subordinate cadres ( where it is a virtual mayhem! ). Will the Maharashtra CM take the lead and start from the State Forest Department?

Hemant

PM helpless, for what ?

PM is fooling people when he admitted total responsibility for the Thomas fiasco. Every body knows that Thomas' name was thrust on him by the sphinx breathing behind him and her coterie. No where in the annals of political history one can see a man sacrificing his personal reputation both as an economist and a man with integrity and honesty to stick on to the gaddi thrown at him by his foreign origin employer.

N Krishnan

Should regional parties be allowed to contest Parliamentary polls ?

Looking at DMK's role in the 2G scam and the utter helplessness of our PM, it is time think whether regional parties should be allowed to contest Parliamentary elections and become part of governance at centre. Most of these parties have narrow parochial agendas based on caste and language and create fissiparous tendencies. It is time we redraw our constitution based on our sixty years of experience making political parties ineligible to contest Parliamentary elections unless they have won minimum number of seats in at least three states in the previous election.

Navnith

All candidates for CVC's post were Raja's !

It is interesting to note that all the three panelists for the CVC post were DMK candidates. Thomas was the candidate of A. Raja and the other two S. Krishnan and Bijoy Chatterjee were recommended my Minister M.K. Alagiri, the illiterates son of Karunanidhi, both being Secretaries - one in the Fertiliser Ministry and the other in the Petro-Chemicals. But A. Raja managed his candidate's selection with the support of invisible forces behind the Congress Party.

N Krishnan

There was a time when the UP Cadre IAS officers use to rule the roost. Today the situation is different. The Keralites are ruling the roost. T.K.A. Nair (PPS to PM); K.M. Chandreshekhar (Cab Sec); G.K. Pillai (Hom. Sec.); Shiv Shankar Menon (National Security Advisor); R. Chandreshkhar (Telecom); and Christi Fernandez (Secy to Pres). Were these people resonsible for giving the advise to PM for appointment of P.J. Thomas as CVC (also a Keralite)? I may be wrong.

B B Srivastava

"Thomas must have resigned gracefully; not in ignominy"

The appointment of P J Thomas as CVC is quashed by the Apex court. But, he is refusing to resign and is contemplating filing a review petition before the same court. Is he waiting for an arrest warrant from the Supreme court for deliberately violating its orders of quashing his appointment orders by the GoI? One would like to know the fate of all recommendations made by the former CVC, ever since his appointment. Are all his recommendations made in the capacity as illegally appointed Chief Vigilance Commissioner, ipso facto, become invalid by the Supreme court verdict? The legal luminaries may throw some light on the validity of these recommendations made by the tainted CVC. Will the Supreme court, suo motto, issue fresh directions to the GoI in this regard ? It is high time that the PM and HM resigned forthwith. It is regrettable that Thomas did not resign gracefully at the appropriate time, but, is, instead, planning to resign in ignominy. Is there a secret deal between him and the GOI? This betrays his hunger for power despite the Supreme court's reprimand. Is CVC's refusal to resign not a disservice to vigilance administration in the country ? Will the PM assure the country to take strict action against the bureaucrats in the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and the DOP&T which he heads as the Cabinet Minister?

A K Saxena (A retired civil servant)

FM is on right path

I think the cabinet note should also include appointment of senior most Board of Director as Chairman of all PSUs.

Kishan

Thomas is out, what about others?

CVC Thomas is out. According to SC, the reason is that a charge sheet is pending against him. What about the other IAS officer who was also charge sheeted along with him in the Palmoil case. He was handpicked as in charge of the catering in the scandalous CWG OC and went on promotion to a 'lucrative' Ministry as Addl. Secretary. Many in the public believe that PM and HM are not dumb enough to order such postings, but because of their greed to keep their gaddi listen to the UPA Chairperson and the communal coterie around her.

N K Narayanan

A sound idea

Training Collectors for work in naxal infested areas is a sound idea. If Collectors do not wish to be trained for work in naxal infested areas, probably a better idea would be to train them as probationers when they are at the academy. But they should be trained lest all the sacrifices to contain the menace of naxalism made by the forces go waste by the Government having to release dangerous extremists in exchange of the life of an un-trained Collector.

A K Singh

Who is opposed to Rahul's ekla chalo mantra?

Certainly not the young India. It is sick of this continuing live-in/live-out/live-in relationship of the coalition politics. All partners are the same. Leave one and the other proves costlier. Worse that it is no legitimate form of relationship, still more worse that it is short lived and worst that it gets revived, stilled, revived, dead and again revived. But the wheeler dealer class of the Congress(living a fully non-congress political culture), is opposed to this mantra of ekla chalo re. This is, by the way, the beneficiary class of the 85 paise out of every rupee that late Rajiv referred as the money being swallowed by the middle men/women before it reached the target groups. Rajiv too wanted to clean up the political garbage dump. Alas, the dump exploded in his very face! The complexity of the current political situation in the country is the break down of the ideological moorings, which has thrown up a lot of scum, that sells support for government formation for commission. When the PM or the Govt can no more continue to pander to their demand, he is threatened with withdrawal of support. To pull the country out of such quagmire, ekla chalo re is the only healthy alternative. But that can not be brought about by one man/woman--it needs an organization called the party. A party that has members prepared to make sacrifice, not paint their lost opportunities as sacrifice in the manner of mazaboori kaa naam Mahatma Gandhi! Can Rahul accept this challenge? Youth(also addressed by several other adjectives, at least in administrative lingo, as inexperience/green horse/immature/new/enthusiastic etc)being exuberant is quick, rather impulsive, to accept any challenge, and mistakes the damaging capabilities of the old hands. But there can be no denial that ekla chalo is the best option.

M L Gupta

Misuse of the Act

The appellant sought information regarding grant in aid given to DAV College etc. and was offered the opportunity to inspect all the records. He instead filed second appeal before the Commission. Respondents stated that the appellant was in the habit of filing RTI applications and had filed 250 RTI applications to date through which he sought voluminous and old information. Usually, the appellant does not appear before the First Appellate Authority when his appeal comes

live for receiving the information. They submitted that the appellant who is a former contractual employee of D.A.V. College has already been provided information under the present RTI application running into over 200 pages and have so far provided him thousands of pages of
information against his other RTI applications. The Commission ruled that such vexatious applications can be summarily dismissed at the level of the CPIO since it is obvious that these applications are not being preferred in public interest and are in fact adversely impacting
the functioning of the public authority instead of strengthening it, which is contrary to the letter and spirit of the RTI Act.

Comments

Cases where the appellant is misusing the RTI Act to settle personal scores with his former employer are not uncommon. This ruling provides a definitive way for summarily dismissing those applications at the level of the PIO which causes disruption in normal work and strain on
the financial resources.

Dr. Rajender K. Singla vs. O/o Director, Higher Education, Chandigarh in CIC/LS/C/2009/000770DS

- 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)