What people say about us!

Congrats for covering neighbour country (Pakistan). Please cover international whispers in coming days. Best wishes.

Sanjay Kumar Verma

TMC should open its account in Manipur
As the grapevine has it, there is a strong possibility that in last month's state assembly polls of Manipur the Trina Mool Congress (TMC)
being headed by West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee should open its account. It is believed that the TMC may win 10 out of 60 seats in Manipur.

Who could be dark horse in Manipur?
Just in case ruling Congress party led conglomerate does not retain power in the Manipur, where voting for state assembly polls took place
last month, it is believed that a dark horse could become the Chief Minister. However, it is still not clear that as to who could that dark horse be?

Nilekani to present Adhaar report to FM
Chairman, UIDAI, Nandan Nilekani is going to present a final report on the task force of Aadhaar Enabled Unified Payment Structure to FM, Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday.

No wrong in elected representative addressing a bureaucrat as "Sir"?
There is nothing wrong in an elected representative addressing a bureaucrat as "Sir" . The above conclusion has been drawn from the responses received during a debate conducted by whispersinthecorridors.com, to elicit whether it is appropriate for an
elected representative to address a bureaucrat as "Sir"?

The issue came to the fore when, recently, Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik asked his Cabinet Ministers to maintain dignity of the office. Patnaik conveyed his mind when a Minister addressed "Sir" to an IAS officer in his presence. "You are Cabinet Minister and should maintain your dignity" the Chief Minister was reported to have said.

The whispersinthecorridors.com , thus, asked its surfers "How far it is appropriate for an elected representative to address a bureaucrat as "Sir". And the majority respondents said - There is nothing wrong in an elected representative addressing a bureaucrat as "Sir".

While some said that Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik's advisory to his Cabinet colleagues to refrain from addressing the bureaucrats as 'Sir', was unwarranted, others said that it reflects his feudalistic and hierarchical mindset .

While K Y Dasu, DIG/Retd. (CISF) said, "An elected representative addressing a bureaucrat as 'Sir', is neither a crime nor political taboo and there is nothing wrong in it", TVS Narayan said "Politicians calling Bureaucrats 'Sir' is perfectly in order. Not every politician need do this. It is a relative equation, where the Politician might be giving value to the person and not to the position. The politician must be a person of propriety and stature who wanted to give due respect to another individual. Nothing wrong in the salutation. I do not say everybody should do it".

Yet another respondent A K Saxena who is a retired civil servant asserted that Patnaik's advisory to his Cabinet colleagues to refrain from addressing the bureaucrats as 'Sir', was unwarranted. "He owns a feudalistic and hierarchical mindset . Ego massage is an important aspect of Communication skill. If an elected representative addresses a bureaucrat as 'Sir', his job is completed quickly and without bribe", he said.

Others like J B Sinha, NVK Prabhakar, S K Tewari were also of the opinion that there was nothing wrong in elected representative addressing a bureaucrat as "Sir".

However, those who feel that a Minister addressing a bureaucrat as 'Sir' is not appropriate said that it was incorrect because though 'Sir' is just an addressing word, in India, it is invariably associated with seniority and superiority. "Therefore in Indian context the minister calling a bureaucrat as 'Sir' is not appropriate", claimed Nandan.

"Bureaucrats are public servants and elected representatives represent the people. Therefore it is inappropriate for an elected representative (of the public) to address a bureaucrat (a public servant) as Sir", says Ajay adding "But this is India, Sab Chalta Hai, Sir"

For details : Read February issue of the Whispers In The Corridors

BUREAUCRACY

A K Mathur gets two months extension
If sources close of Delhi CM Sheila Dixit are to be believed, Enforcement Director, A K Mathur is getting two months extension in service. 1977 batch UT cadre IAS officer Mathur was scheduled to retire on February 29.
(We said this on February 21)

Will Gopalan be Member of 14th Finance Commission?
Latest grapevine has is that Secretary, DEA, R Gopalan is being appointed Member of the 14th Finance Commission. 1976 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, Gopalan is scheduled to superannuate on April 30.One sources however said that he may be appointed new Chairman of TRAI.

Jawahar Sircar is new CEO Prasar Bharti
Secretary Culture Jawahar Sircar has taken over as new CEO of the Prasar Bharti. He is considered to be an outstanding 1975 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre. Prior to this he was Secretary Culture in the Government of India.
(We said this on February 17)

13 IRS officers resign from service
As many as 13 IRS officers have tendered their resignations from the Indian Revenue Service. The officers include: Abhimanyu Kumar, Banoth Jugal Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kutiyal, Parivinder Singh, Ragapriya R, Swapnil Mamgain, Amit Khatri, Danish Ashraf, Karthikeyan S, M Pradeep Singh, R Menaka, V S Choudhary Kolasani and Shweta Teotia. The resignations of all the officers have been accepted with effect from August 26, 2011.

Snehlata Kumar appointed Consultant, Planning Commission
Ms Snehlata Kumar has been appointed Consultant in the Planning Commission in the rank of Additional Secretary. She is 1979 batch IAS
officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.
(We said this on February 15)

Khetan appointed Joint Secretary, Urban Development
C K Khetan has been appointed new Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development. He is 1987 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.
(We said this on February 17)

Kurian to return to Kerala
Controller, General Patents, Designs and Trademarks in Mumbai is returning to the parent cadre. He is 1986 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.

Chaitanya Prasad to move to Mumbai
Chaitanya Prasad is moving to Mumbai to succeed Kurian as Controller General, Patents, Designs and Trademarks. He is 1990 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Krishan Kumar appointed Ambassador, Morocco
Krishan Kumar presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom
of Morocco.
(We said this on February 13)

Meena appointed HC to Guyana
Puran Mal Meena presently Joint Secretary in the Minisry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. He is 1983 batch IFS officer.
(We said this on February 10)

Subrata Bhattacharjee appointed Ambassador to Guatemala
Subrata Bhattacharjee, presently Deputy Chief of Mission in Embassy of India, Cairo, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Guatemala. He is 1989 batch IFS officer.
(We said this on February 4)

Santosh Macheria gets extension in CBI?
Santosh Macheria has been granted extension in deputation tenure. He is a 1984 batch IPS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre.

Roy Chowdhary waiting to become IRDA member
S Roy Chowdhury ED, Marketing LIC is waiting for his approval to join as member of insurance regulator IRDA.

IPS officer gets confirmation order
S. Bhoopathi ACP Crime Jalandhar Services has been confirmed by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. He is an IPS officer
of 2007 batch who belongs to Punjab Cadre.

Sudhanshu joins as DIG, SPG
Sudhanshu S. Srivastava DIG Panjab Police has joined as DIG in Special Protection Group (SPG). He is an IPS officer of 1994 batch who belongs to the Punjab cadre.
(We said this on December9, 2011)

Nuzhat Hussan gets extension
Nuzhat Hussan, OSD to the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, has been given further extension of 6 months .She has successfully completed 7 years of her Central Deputation. She is an IPS officer of 1991 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Mamta will not like officers to go on deputation
West Bengal Chief Minister; Ms. Mamta Banerjee has sent an advisory to the Government of India conveying/requesting not to call IAS/IPS
officers of West Bengal cadre on Central Deputation due to shortage of officers.

Debarment order of IPS officer revoked
Debarment order of Ajay Singhal, IG (SVB) HQ Panchkula Chandigarh for central deputation has been revoked by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He is an IPS officer of 1992 batch who belongs to the Haryana cadre.

Rao to be 4th non CIL nominee, & 2nd in three decades
S Narsing Rao will be the fourth non CIL nominee selected for the top job and, second in three decades. Presently he is Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the state controlled Singareni Collieries Company of Andhra Pradesh. He is the maiden IAS officer who will be Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Coal India Ltd. He has been CMD of the Singareni Collieries Company since September 2006.He is an IAS officer of 1986 batch who belongs to the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Sanjeev Kumar moves to Mizoram
Sanjeev Kumar has been moved from Delhi to Mizoram. He is 1992 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Air Vice Marshal, Singh takes over charge
Air Vice Marshal GP Singh has taken over as Senior Officer-in Charge Administration (SOA) of Southern Air Command at Akkula.

Sanjeev Handa to retire
Member (Mechanical) in the Railway Board Sanjeev Handa is superannuating on February 29.

Gujarat Travel Mart 2012 unfolds
Gujarat Tourism's second consecutive edition of 'Gujarat Travel Mart' was inaugurated by Principal Secretary Tourism to the Government of Gujarat (GOG) Vipul Mitra (IAS)in Gandhinagar on February 22,2012. At the outset guests were given outline of the Mega event by Sanjay Kaul (IAS) Managing Director (MD) of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TGCL). In his address Vipul MIttra said the second edition of 'GujaratTravel Mart' would give fillip to the tourism in Gujarat. The 3 day long event has seen participation by over 550 delegates. A cultural programme was presented to delegates after inauguration of the event. GOG's Tourism Minister Jaynarayan Vyas could not attend the ceremony owing to model code of conduct in the wake of a by poll in Gandhi Nagar.

DoPT seeks applications for post of Member, PESB
Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is inviting applications from the eligible persons for the post of Member in Public Enterprises
Selection Board (PESB). The applications should reach the Department before April 10, 2012.

UPSC announces final results of Combined Defence Services Exam (I) 2011
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the final results of Combined Defence Services Examination (I)-2011. A total of 356 candidates (272 Men and 84 Women), have finally qualified the same.

Group training course to be held in Japan from May 13
A group training course in Construction Technology Introduced and/or Applied to Developing Countries will be held in Japan from May 13 to
June 30, 2012.

What is the future of SpiceJet?
The future of Spice Jet would largely depend upon the formation of the next government at the Centre.

Will there be a new player in Aviation Sector?
Will there be a new player in Aviation Sector? This question is being asked in the Aviation Sector given the interest and efforts of the
Reliance Group towards the same.

IPS postings in Haryana (UPDATED)
Ashwin will be new SP (Telecom). against a vacant post.Anil Dhawan has been made Hisar SP. Jagat Singh will be new the SP of Palwal.

Ms Nayar to quit Kotak Investment Banking (UPDATED)
Ms. Falguni Nayar is quitting Kotak Investment Banking as Managing Director to become an entrepreneur.

Ms Kambara likely to join as MD, Kotak Investment Banking (UPDATED)
Ms. Shanti Kambara is expected to join as Managing Director of Kotak Investment Banking.

B B Sharma to join GoI (UPDATED)
B B Sharma is joining the Government of India as IG in the BPR&D. He is 1990 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.

Jain relieved to join Prasar Bharti (UPDATED)
Delhi Government has relieved IAS officer V K Jain to join as ADG (Administration) Doordarshan.

PAKISTAN WHISPERS

Forget IPad you may soon have PacPad made in Pakistan @ $ 200
According to report published in the Gulf News Pakistan's sprawling military industrial complex has developed its own version of IPad at the Kamra aeronautical complex. The device runs on Android 2.3 operating system developed by Google. Shortly to be marketed at a street price of US $ 200 it is going to be barely half the price at which Apple IPads are marketed. The letters 'Pac' in PacPad stand for Pakistan Aeronautical Complex where fighter jets are made with Chinese help.

Two Govt departments, one office complex and an ugly fight in Islamabad
The Capital Administration & Development Division (CADD) and Islamabad Capital Territory administration (ICT) are engaged in an ugly fight over possession of a government office complex in Islamabad's H-9 area. ICT's Chief Commissioner Tariq Pirzada and DC Amir Ahmad assisted by an Executive Magistrate Kamran Cheema took possession of three blocks in the complex on Tuesday morning claiming that it had been vacated by the curriculum wing of the federal ministry of education after the education department devolved on the provinces. The chief commissioner also claimed that ICT was in possession of allotment order issued by the estate office with the PM's approval. By evening however CADD's Secretary Imtiyaz Inayat Elahi had broken open the locks and threw away the ICT alleging that the chief commissioner had obtained the PM's approval by misleading him and the blocks were got vacated from the earlier occupants by using the Islamabad police. CADD working directly under the cabinet division is planning to send a detailed report on the Chief Commissioner's misdemeanor for PM's information.

Islamabad High Court stays appointment of Welfare Attaches for Overseas Missions
Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi of Islamabad High Court has stayed the posting of 10 Community Welfare Attaches for Pakistan's missions in other countries. The stay has come in response to a petition alleging that the appointments have been made without the vacancies having been publicised as per laid down procedure and the persons selected do not in any manner have the qualifications or experience required for such job. Punjab governor's son, and an officer from the ISI have been selected for posting to London and Riyad respectively and the remaining 8 appointees are all senior bureaucrats or their family members.

Contempt Petition against DG, ISPR
A contempt of court petition has been filed in the supreme court against Maj Gen, Athar Abbas DG, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR)
alleging that some press releases by the ISPR have attempted to bring the lower judiciary in to disrepute and prejudice the supreme court by indulging in malicious and false propaganda against the petitioners in an ongoing case. The petition filed by advocate Tariq Asad is
regarding the case of 11 'missing persons' who after their acquittal by the anti terrorism court Rawalpindi and the Islamabad High Court
were picked up by the ISI in May 2010 from the Adiala jail. Four of the detainees died in the ISI's illegal custody allegedly due to torture and the remaining seven were produced in the Supreme Court by a recalcitrant ISI on 13th February. The apex court will take up the case again on 1st March when the ISI has to produce the details and records of their arrest, law under which they were picked up after their acquittal by the trial court and legal proceedings if any to which they were subjected while in detention. Ahead of the March 1 hearing however the ISPR has been issuing press notes saying that the persons are dreaded criminals involved in the killing of a number of innocent civilians.

Security forces step up ops in Baluchistan?
Spokesperson of the central committee of Baluch Republican Party (BRP) Sher Mohammad Bugti has in a statement issued in Quetta accused Pakistan's armed forces to have stepped up their operations against the Baluch people after a Republican Senator moved a resolution in the US House of representatives favoring the right of the Baluch people for self determination. Bugti called upon the Baluch people to 'unite against the enemy in their demand for independence'.

DEBATE - Should bureaucrats alone be held accountable for policy decisions ?

Bureaucrats now feel that Ministers and Politicians also be held responsible for 'policy decisions' taken by the government. They also want that entire cabinet should be held accountable for policy decisions. How far they are correct in their thinking ?

Mail your to the point views to suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com or mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com

CORPORATE

Will a falling Yen find its route in Indian equities?
The Yen is once again plunging against the dollar leading to a flight of currency to other stable high yielding assets. Market men say that
flow of yen in Indian equity markets is likely to rise as the activity picks up on Indian bourses. FII's have already pumped in $4 bn in the
past few months in Indian capital markets.

First ever Realty bible
Union Minister for Urban Development, Kamal Nath is going to launch a first ever Real Estate Bible which has been developed by Planman Marcom.

Post of Development Commissioner vacant in SEEPZ at Mumbai
DoPT is seeking applications from the joint secretary level officers for the post of Development Commissioner, Santa Cruz Exclusive Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) at Mumbai in Maharashtra on deputation basis under the department of Commerce, Government of India.

PESB invites applications for post of Director (HR), NTPC Ltd
Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) is seeking applications from the willing candidates for the post of Director (Human Resources),
NTPC Limited. The applications should reach the PESB before April 24, 2012.

Mistry resigns from Gokak Textiles
Pallonji S Mistry has resigned as director from the board of Gokak Textiles

Sanghi resigns from the board of Sanghi Polyesters
Swati Sanghi director of Sanghi Polyesters has resigned from the board of the company.

Mundra appointed whole-time Director (Finance), Pasupati Acrylon
Rakesh Mundra has been appointed whole-time Director (Finance) of Pasupati Acrylon.

Bandyopadhyay appointed as additional director of UT
Swapan Kumar Bandyopadhyay has been appointed as the additional director of UT.

Das appointed Senior VP, Carat Media
Himanka Das has been appointed as Senior Vice President (West) Carat Media. He was earlier with Lintas Media Group as Vice President
(Karishma Initiative).

Ravias appointed Addl. Director, Coromandel Engineering Company Ltd
Coromandel Engineering Company Limited has appointed N V Ravias as Additional Director of the company w.e.f February 21, 2012.

Banerjee appointed VP, (English magazines) ABP group
Kaushik Banerjee has been appointed as Vice President (English magazines), ABP Group w.e.f March 1, 2012.

Chivukula appointed Company Secy. Shetron Ltd
Vidyacharan Chivukula has been appointed as Company Secretary of Shetron Ltd w.e.f. February 1, 2012.

Rawat to be Company Secy. Eurotex Industries And Exports Ltd
Rahul Rawat has been appointed as Company Secretary of Eurotex Industries And Exports Ltd w.e.f. February 27, 2012.

Solanki appointed Director, Chandrika Traders Ltd
Chandrika Traders Ltd has appointed Mahendrabhai Solanki as a Director of the company.

Two directors cease to be on Board of Chandrika Traders Ltd
Anindo Anchinto Banerji and Sarabjeet Singh Arora, have resigned as Directors of Chandrika Traders Ltd.

Actor Anupam Kher to launch his book
Film actor Anupam Kher is launching his book The Best Thing about You Is You!

Rao appointed Director, MICA
Prof Nagesh Rao who is a faculty at IIM Ahmedabad has been appointed as the wholetime Director of Mudra Institute of Communications,
Ahmedabad.

DEBATE (1)

IAS officers can not be held responsible for any wrongdoing because they are overseeing hundreds of things a day. Since they can not read any of the proposals and have to approve without reading they don't even know about the issue. So how can they be responsible. Besides all the matters are technical in nature and hence thay should not be held responsible for approving such matters.

Manish

DEBATE (2)

I fully agree that it is not only the civil servants for framing policies culpability of the cabinet the ministers and the elected representatives cannot be ignored.

V K Dayalu

"Mystery shrouds delay in Ms. Sadhana Dixit's elevation"

No mystery at all. telecom Commission is being wound up as per Pay Commissions report. Future structure of Deptt. of Telecom is yet to be decided. Member Production vacancy is lying vacant for more than a couple of years. 3 posts of Advisors are also defunct.

R Kumar

British have been successful in their pursuit

When Lord Macaulay came to India in 1834, he saw not a single beggar nor a thief in India. Wealth was so great and people had the highest moral values and highest caliber because of their spiritual and cultural heritage. To conquer India, in the British Parliament, Lord M stated that the best way was to usher in English, change the ancient education system and their culture, thus paving the way to make the Indians lose their self esteem and corrupt. Thus corruption was born in India. The British have been very successful in their pursuit. Our netas and bureaucracy have fallen into the trap and so have we the commoners.

K S Palachandran

Post doesn't matters, the institution does

Inspite of the setback one should go on soldiering honestly in whatever job is assigned to us. A truly great officer cannot be put down by changes and must strive to do his best in public interest regardless of post. Post does not matter, the institution does.

R Bharadwaj

Evidence of corruption or human rights violation necessary for schedule II organisations

Theappellant filed an application under the RTI Act seeking certain information from the respondent organization. The Commission noted that the respondent is an exempted organization listed under Schedule II of the RTI Act and therefore, is not amenable to any provision contained in the Act by virtue of Section 24. Furthermore, the information sought by the Appellant does not pertain to any violation of human rights and allegation of corruption, and therefore, does not fall under Proviso (I) to Section 24 of the RTI Act. The Commission ruled that an 'allegation of corruption' does not mean mere conjectures and surmises. Allegations ought to be supported by cogent and sound evidence which can lead the Commission to frame a prima facie view about corrupt or malpractices being involved in any given case. The Commission rejected the appeal ruling that such element is clearly missing as no evidence or material has been placed by the Appellant to establish prima facie case of corruption or violation of human right.

Comments

In cases of organisations which are beyond the purview of the RTI Act, an applicant must put up evidence of corruption or human rights violation for his application to be considered as a valid RTI application.

Shri Anil Prasad v. Sashastra Seema Bal in No.CIC/SS/A/2011/001855

- 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)