What people say about us!

I saw the site today. Impressive indeed. New format is very good and systematic. Keep it up.

S C Agrawal

Who is Chhattopadhyay in AICC?
Those who visit the AICC, talk about one Chhattopadhyay these days. Who is Chattopadhyay?

Modi's Sadbhavana Mission to conclude on February 12,2012 (UPDATED)
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Sadbhavana Mission will conclude on February 12,2012 with an event,the 33rd in the series, to be held at Banaskatha.Through,this Modi has spread a message of peace,goodwill & amity in the whole of Gujarat.

BUREAUCRACY

Who will be new Secretary Steel?
Appointment of new Secretary Steel has been stuck-up. Reason, the Minister wants Secretary from his home state Uttar Pradesh but the higher-ups are opposed to this theory. They say that the Minister and the Secretary should not be from the same state.

Sundareshan gets additional charge of Steel
Secretary, Heavy Industries, S Sundareshan has been given additional charge as Secretary, Ministry of Steel. He is 1976 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.

Will Sharad Gupta retire without becoming Secretary?
Will 1977 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Sharad Gupta retire without becoming the Secretary in the Government of India? It seems so. Reason, Gupta who is presently DG in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is scheduled to retire on Nov 1.

Number of 1978 batch IAS officer goes to 37
With the empanelment of R P Watal the number of empanelled 1978 batch IAS officers to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India has now risen to 37. Watal is AP cadre officer.

Srinivasan is AS & FA, Space
Sudarsanam Srinivasan has been appointed as Additional Secretary & Financial Adviser, Department of Space. He is a 1980 batch IAS officer of Orissa cadre.
(We said this on January 27)

Deepak Anurag to be JS and FA, Water Resources
IA&AS officer Deepak Anurag is likely to be appointed Joint Secretary and FA in the Department of Water Resources in the Government of India.

J P Sharma is now Additional Secretary in Goi
J P Sharma has been elevated as Additional Secretary, DoNER in the Government of India. He is 1981 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Akash Sharma selected as Director (Fin), TCIL
Akash Sharma, Assistant VP, Bajaj Hindustan Limited, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), Tyre Corporation of India Limited (TCIL) at a Public Enterprise Selection Board meeting held on Wednesday.

Who is backing T.S. Vijayan for LIC's top slot?
Who is backing T.S. Vijayan for LIC's top slot? This question is hot topic of discussion as TS Vijayan was demoted within weeks of the Finance Ministry setting up a committee led by former Deputy Governor (DG) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Vepa Kamesam to probe the investments made by the LIC in the last couple of years.

A K Roy's file in MHA for CMD, GIC
File relating to appointment of A.K. Roy as full time Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC) has been lying in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Presently Roy is officiating CMD of GIC.

Milind A. Kharat's file in MHA for CMD, AIC of India Ltd
File relating to appointment of Milind A. Kharat as full time Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC)has been lying in the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA).Presently, Kharat is officiating CMD of AIC.

IAS officer seeks VRS in Tamil Nadu
1983 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer K Ashok Vardhan Shetty has sought voluntary retirement from service.

Are babus going to challenge the new DoPT service rules?
It is heard that Babus are likely to challenge the new 'sack after 15 years 'dictum.

Three more names to be added to list of EDs in PS banks
As the grapevine has it, at least three more names of General Managers (GMs) in Public Sector (PS) banks, including that of C G Pinto of Corporation Bank, will be added for promotion as Executive Directors (EDs).

Uncertainty over Ms.Punam Dutt posting as DGIT Vigilance, Delhi
As the grapevine has it uncertainty prevails over posting of Ms. Punam Dutt as DGIT Vigilance, Delhi.

Pise to be Ambassador to Mali
Perhaps Prashant L Pise will be youngest IFS officer to go as Indian Ambassador. 1995 batch IFS officer Pise is being appointed Ambassador to Mali.

Raj to join GoI?
K. Manicka Raj Commissioner, Municipal Commission, Rajahmundry is likely to join Cabinet Secretariat in the Government of India. He is an IAS officer of 2005 batch who belongs to the Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Ashok Kumar gets additional charge in BSF
Ashok Kumar, IG Administration, Border Security Force will also look after the additional charge of IG Hqrs in place of Sudesh Kumar. He is an IPS officer of 1989 batch who belongs to Uttarakhand cadre.

Jaspal Singh to be Director, Rajya Sabha Security!
Jaspal Singh (DIG) Additional CP, Security Delhi Police is likely to go on central deputation as Director, Rajya Sabha Security, New Delhi. He is an IPS officer of 1996 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

IAS changes in Madhya Pradesh
Mid-day Meal Scheme Coordinator and Additional Secretary (Panchayat and Rural Development) Umakant Umrao has been appointed as Secy., (Public Health and Family Welfare) while Jabalpur Division's Additional Commissioner (Revenue) Ramavtar Khandelwal has been posted as Secretary in the Mantralaya. Rajnish Shrivastava will replace Manish Singh as Commissioner Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Manish Singh has been posted as MD, AKVN Indore.Collector, Satna Sukhveer Singh has been made MD, MP Urja Vikas Nigam, Collector Mandla, KK Khare has been posted as Collector, Satna, Collector, Barwani Renu Tiwari has been posted as Deputy Secretary at the Mantralaya. CEO, District Panchayat Hoshangabad Shriman Shukla has been posted as Collector, Barwani and CEO District Panchayat Chhindwara Swati Meena has been posted as Collector, Mandla.

1996 batch IAS get super-time scale in Madhya Pradesh
1996 batch IAS officers in Madhya Pradesh have been given super-time scale on Wednesday.

What a logic for extension to a Chief Secretary?
The Mizoram Chief Minister is keen for three months extension in service to his Chief Secretary Vanhela Pachuau. And the logic is -his services are required to implement Congress policies and programmes. Indian bureaucracy is watching with keen interest the outcome of the development.1976 batch IAS officer Pachuau is scheduled to retire on March 1.

Mathur to be ADG
Atul Kumar Mathur, Director, North-East Police Academy, Shillong, is likely to be promoted in situ as Additional DG. He is an IPS officer of 1980 batch who belongs to Assam-Meghalaya Cadre.

Chhabra to go on study leave?
MK Chhabra, IG (Modernization), BPR&D is likely to go on a year's leave for studies in IIT, Delhi. He is an IPS officer of 1988 batch who belongs to the Odisha cadre.

Polls eclipse promotion of IPS officers in Punjab
A number of IPS officers in Punjab are awaiting their promotions. Though, DPC was held later last year, orders could not be issued in the wake of assembly polls in Punjab polling for which took place on January 30, 2012. IPS officers belonging to 1982 batch are to be promoted as Director Generals (DGs) while those belonging to 1987 batch are to be promoted as ADGs. Besides, IPS officers of 1994 batch are to be promoted as IGs.

Pattanayak to be Director, Satyajit Ray Film Institute
Sanjaya Pattanayak, IOFS, presently Dy. Director General, Ordnance Factory Board, Ministry of Defence, has been selected for the post of Director, Satyajit Ray Film & TV Institute under Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Appointment has been cleared by ACC.

1982 batch of IPS officers to be elevated as DGs in Punjab
IPS officers belonging to 1982 batch are awaiting their elevation as Director Generals (DGs) in Punjab. Among others are Rajinder Singh and Sumedh S Saini.

Anshu Sinha is now Dy. Secretary, Vigilance in DoPT
Ms. Anshu Sinha Managing Director, Agri & Animal Husbandry Deptt, Nagaur has been appointed as Deputy Secretary, Vigilance, DoP&T Government of India. This is a newly created post to monitor anti-corruption. She is an IAS officer of 1999 batch who belongs to the Maharashtra cadre.

Upadhyay to join UN assignment
Rajender Pal Upadhyay, IG, Joint CP Delhi Police will be relieved shortly for the posting to Italy to join as Advisor Public Order (UN assignment).He is an IPS officer of 1991 batch AGMU cadre.

Pattnaik promoted in Delhi police
Amulya Kumar Pattnaik, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, Southern range has been promoted(Grade of ADGP) as Spl. CP Delhi Police. He is an IPS officer of 1985 batch, who belongs to the AGMU Cadre.
(We said this on 25 December 2011)

Meena appointed Director, Urban Development
Veena Kumari Meena has been appointed Director in the Ministry of Urban Development for a period of five years. She is 1993 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

63 posts at various levels vacant at CPC (TDS), Vaishali office
Directorate of Income Tax (Systems) is looking for officers/officials in the level of Addl/Jt. CSIT/ACIT/DCIT/ITO/ITI/TA at CPC (TDS), Vailshali office. There are three vacancies of Addl/Jt CIT level while three of Dy/Asst. CIT and 12 posts of ITO. Similarly, one post of ITO (HQ.), two of AD (Systems), one of DDO, 20 of inspector, one of O.S and 20 posts of T.A.

D A Hawaldar is new Collector in Goa
IAS officer DA Hawaldar has replace Sandeep Jacques as South Goa Collector on the orders of the Election Commission.

Dilemma over CMDs in banks continues
Dilemma over elevation of Executive Directors (EDs) as Chairman & Managing Directors (CMDs) in six public sector bank is still persisting.

Tyagi is new DC South District
U K Tyagi, Special Commissioner (T&T) NCT, Government of Delhi, has been transferred as Deputy Commissioner, South District. He is a DANICS Cadre Officer.

Veil of secrecy over elevation of bankers
A veil of secrecy is being maintained as far as elevation of bankers as Executive Directors (EDs) in Public Sector (PS) banks was concerned.

S K Jain to be ED, Bank of Baroda
As the grapevine has it, S K Jain who is presently General Manager (GM) in the Dena Bank, is poised to be Executive Director (ED) in the Bank of Baroda.

Kapil Sibal inaugurates ITI Lab at Bangalore (UPDATED)
Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Communications & IT and HRD, inaugurated 'New Products Lab' at ITI in Bangalore recently. Speaking on the occasion, he said that his Ministry would do everything possible to revive ITI and 'bring back smiles' on faces of employees. "Your company has been a backbone of telecom industry and we will not allow it to go down", he told to the packed audience at ITI Plant. R Chandrashekhar, Secretary DoT and K L Dhingra, CMD of ITI, employees, top officials from Defence, Banks and other PSUs were present on the occasion. Sibal also assured government support to ITI in areas such as defence business, R&D and the company's modernization drive. "We recognize, remember and appreciate ITI's contribution to the telecom sector and let us work together for better days ahead", he said. Earlier in the day, a brief presentation was made to the Minister by ITI Management on various activities of ITI, its diversification strategy, business road map and future plans. Sibal and Chandrashekhar planted saplings in the premises of company's corporate office as good-will gesture and wishes for better days again.

Railways Minister visits SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant (UPDATED)
Dinesh Trivedi Minister for Railways, visited Bhilai Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) on February 8,2012. He was accompanied by Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa, Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal, Member (Engg.) A.P. Mishra, and other senior officials from the Indian Railways. In his address to Bhilai employees, Trivedi appreciated the success of the long business relationship between the Indian Railways and SAIL and acknowledged that it was being strengthened further through the continuous initiatives being taken by SAIL & Indian Railways to meet the growing requirements of the Railways, both technical and volume-wise. "SAIL plants like in Bhilai occupy pride of place in India's industrial firmament and SAIL and Indian Railways together are strengthening the foundations of the country," he remarked. Muniyappa complimented Bhilai employees for their achievements and observed that SAIL and Indian Railways have to grow and progress together. SAIL Chairman C.S.Verma stated that SAIL is proud to contribute about 7% of the total freight business of the Indian Railways in India, in both volume and monetary terms. Describing Indian Railways as SAIL's "most important customer", he added that "SAIL is already the sole supplier
of rails to the Indian Railways including long rails of 260 metres. SAIL till date has supplied more than 16 million tonnes of rails to the Railways, with a total rail length of around 4 lakh kilometres, enough to encircle the earth 9.5 times, Verma addeded. The bond has been further strengthened with collaborative efforts with IR, such as -a JV with RITES to set up a wagon manufacturing unit at Kulti in West Bengal to annually manufacture 1,200 wagons and undertake rehabilitation of 300 wagons; and an MoU signed with BSCL and feasibility study completed for setting up a wagon components manufacturing factory at Jellingham, West Bengal on a JV basis.SAIL is investing Rs. 1,600 crore in a new state-of-the-art Universal Rail Mill of 1.2 million tonne capacity being set up at Bhilai. The mill, which is likely to be operational by next year, shall produce single 130-metre rails, with a provision for welding them up to 520-metre lengths. Moreover, the mill
has been designed to produce heavier rail sections up to 75 kg/m and head-hardened rails for the first time in India.

A K Verma, Addl. CIT, Kolkata resigns (UPDATED)
A K Verma, IRS (IT), Additional Commissioner, IT (OSD), Kolkata has resigned from the service.

A K Singh appointed Joint Director CBI (UPDATED)
A.K. Singh,IPS(SK-90) has been appointed as Joint Director in the CBI for a period of five years .
(We said this on December 9,2011)

Five short-listed for UGC Chairman (UPDATED)
Five Academicians are believed to have been short-listed for the post of Chairman University Grants Commission (UGC).They are Prof Ved Prakash Acting Chairman,Prof Syed E Hasnain former VC of Hyderabad University, Prof Surabhi Banerjee VC Central University Orissa,Prof Pankaj Chandra Director IIM Bangalore and Prof A. jaikrishnan, V-C of the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.

Reshuffle of IAS officers in MP (UPDATED)
There is minor reshuffle of IAS officers in Madhya Pradesh. Accordingly, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Swadeep Singh has been posted as OSD, Mantralaya (Ministry) while Principal Secretary, ST, SC Welfare Dr. Devraj Birdi will now be Principal Secretary Forest and Principal Secretary GAD Mrs. Vina Ghanekar is Managing Director, MP ST Finance and Development Corporation. Besides, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical Education Indranil Shankar Dani has been assigned additional charges of Departments of SC, ST and Nomadic, Semi-Nomadic, De-notified Communities' Welfare. Similarly, Public Health and Family Welfare, Secretary, Mrs. Suraj Damor, has also been given additional charges of Departments of SC, ST and Nomad Communities Welfare. M P Agriculture Marketing (Mandi) Board, Director, Ajatshatru will now be Commissioner at the same place. However, he has also been given additional charge of Secretary to Chief Minister. Indore, Industrial Development Corporation, Managing Director, Manish Singh is now being posted as Managing Director of Bhopal Industrial Development Corporation.

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

Who will help Anil Ambani to provide gas for Samalkot plant?
The biggest gas based power plant of 2400 mw is nearing completion but there is no gas to fire it. Anil Ambani has written to the PM to ensure that gas is provided to his plant made with RS 10,000 cr as against diverting it to other unproductive areas. Besides, will the new beginning with elder brother mean some gas from KG Basin being diverted? Who will help Anil Ambani? Big brother or the PM?

LIC to rescue small banks through its funds
It is heard that government is going to ask LIC to buy new issues that are being brought in the market by small banks so as to recapitalize them. It is also learnt that LIC may be asked to recapitalize big banks if need be.

Why did Dhanlaxmi Bank CEO resign?
The exit of Amitabh Chaturvedi has opened a can of worms over the tension between the board of Dhanlaxmi Bank and the management. Prior to the CEO's resignation two board members had quit the bank. It is heard that a large corporate house which has bought a substantial stake in the bank is forcing the bank to invest in securities in the stock market and also in the micro finance institutions. The RBI has already questioned the bank's balance sheet.

Jayakumar takes over as CEO of Dhanalakshmi Bank
P Jayakumar has taken over as the CEO of Dhanalakshmi Bank.

Rana appointed as COO Ratnakar Bank
Joginder Singh Rana ex Citibank employee has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of Ratnakar Bank.

Is Ratnakar Bank also following a pattern of investment banking?
It is heard that Vishwavir Ahuja former CEO of Bank of America who along with 9 other investors have taken a stake in Ratnakar Bank & are following the model of investment banking business. In the recent past the bank has roped in many top executives from various foreign banks.

Saroj Agarwal resigns as Non Exec. Director, Visa Steel Ltd
Ms Saroj Agarwal, Non-Executive Director of Visa Steel Ltd has resigned from the Board of Directors of the company w.e.f. February 6, 2012.

Sarita Agarwal appointed Company Secy. SKP Securities Ltd
Ms. Sarita Agarwal has been appointed as a Company Secretary of SKP Securities Ltd w.e.f. February 01, 2012.

Rao resigns as Director, Indo American Advanced Pharmaceuticals Ltd
V. Koteswara Rao has resigned as a Director of Indo American Advanced Pharmaceuticals Ltd with immediate effect.

Three Independent Directors join Board of Scope Industries (India) Ltd
Scope Industries (India) Ltd has appointed Pattela Goutam Srinivas, Niyaz Ahmed and Nisar Ahmad as Non Executive and Independent Directors of the company.

Three directors cease to be on Board of Scope Industries (India) Ltd
S. Suresh Reddy, Maturi Sudhakar and Sandolu John Vesli have resigned as Directors of Scope Industries (India) Ltd with immediate effect.

Mehta appointed Non Exec. Independent Director, JMC Projects (India) Ltd
JMC Projects (India) Ltd has appointed Shailendera Raj Mehta as Non-Executive Independent Director of the company w.e.f. February 08, 2012.

Parekh resigns as Alternate Director, Borax Morarji Ltd
Deepak S. Parekh, Alternate Director to Ms. Mitika L. Goculdas has resigned from the Board of Directors of Borax Morarji Ltd w.e.f. December 9, 2011.

Shah resigns as Company Secy., Victoria Mills Ltd
Rashmikant Keshavlal Shah has resigned as Company Secretary of Victoria Mills Ltd w.e.f. February 7, 2012.

Gawali resigns as Director, Ayoki Mercantile Ltd
Suhas Gawali, Director of Ayoki Mercantile Ltd has resigned from the company w.e.f. February 7, 2012.

Will CBDT issue directives for early assessment of AY 2011-12

New Chairman CBDT has taken over on 1.2.12 and pace of the work still to be seen. May I request for necessary directives to IT department for finalisation of assessment for the AY 2011-12 before closing of FY 11-12 in order to reduce the arrears of work.

A Kumar

Government is supposed to be a model employer

The Government was supposed to be model employer. Many ITS have joined this cadre by leaving very lucrative jobs of MNCs and very healthy PSUs of GoI. But in the middle of their career now great GoI is asking them to quit ITS and join PSUs which are making losses and facing unequal and biased competition from rogue private telecom operators
(it is proved from latest SC judgement). If ITS are not joining ailing PSUs voluntarily then they will be coerced to do so otherwise will be repatriated to DoT and will be kept idling and later on will be declared surplus. What a wastage of highly skilled and dedicated Human Resources.

A K Sanghi

How this order will affect ITS repatriation?

It is not clear how this order will affect ITS repatriation. Also, whether ITS repatriation is necessary?

Usha Agrawal

It would not be a surprise

It would not be a surprise if Shekhar Gupta does get the Rajya Sabha nomination. Afterall he has been working for this now for quite sometime. His articles arguing for no scam in Commonwealth games, his criticism of CAG for the 2G spectrum report and generally his defence of establishment and blocking publication of what could show the
Government in poor light are all done with a purpose. In UPA1 he managed to get Padamshri for his efforts to oblige the powers that be by doing this. It was he who blocked the, I learn from authentic sources, the publication of actual papers which revealed how the then Minister Culture and now I&B minister covered up her own omission in cohoot with senior officers by telling lies and punishing an innocent officer in the Sethu Samundram Affidavit case-again on a petition
filed by the indefatigable Subramaniam Swamy. Knowing that his articles are not objective many of us have stopped reading him.

Aarti Khosla

The new format is good and attractive

But you see Sir, you have changed your photo to the latest. Request is put your earlier photograph, because when we whisper, leak news , that earlier picture of yours is in mind and thoughts, confidentiality, integrity are associated with that earlier photograph. Your new photo doesn't go well also as it is older person one. Let the site be energetic as usual and as before.

RS

How a repatriation exercise is related to a financial scam?

How a repatriation exercise being an administrative matter is related to outcome of a financial scam? How they are inter related? Can you throw some light. Thanks.

Anil Verma

Process of appointment of Ambassadors to be disclosed

The applicant sought various information from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) like the budget allocated to various divisions; salary and allowances being paid to the staff in Indian embassies; appointment process of Secretary/ Joint Secretaries/ Ambassadors; minutes of meeting of the Committees in MEA dealing with the above appointments etc. The PIO suggested the applicant to refer to some information available on the website of the MEA. The PIO further
informed that the appointment is as per the procedure laid down by the Government of India and as it involves examination of the ACR records of the officers, it cannot be provided under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The minutes of meeting of the Committees in MEA dealing with the above appointments was denied under section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act. The Commission accepted that it would not be in the national interest to disclose the quantum of allowances paid to the staff exemption under Section 8(1)(a) was upheld. The Commission, however, directed to provide the process of appointment. The PIO states that there are three boards for dealing with personnel and postings. The Commission directed to provide the information on these and minutes of the last three meetings of these board.

Comments

The process of appointment /posting at the senior level has been talked out in whispers in the power corridors. Officers from other services are also likely to use this order to remove the wall of secrecy surrounding such appointments.

[Mr. Kishanlal Mittal v. Ministry of External Affairs in Decision No. CIC/SG/C/2011/001204/17022]

- 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)