What people say about us!

A wonderful site for government officials.

Vinod Sharma

Was Kalam shown some sensitive information to back down from President poll?
It is heard that APJ Abdul Kalam was shown some very sensitive information about him that would have completely marred his prospects as a President. It is heard that the information which the Congress used at the last minute to compel him to withdraw from the Presidential race.

Will Sonia still lead Congress in 2014 ?
It is heard that for all the cameo roles that Rahul Gandhi is playing in the Congress, it is Sonia Gandhi who will call the shots even in 2014 election.

Chhattisgarh Government to hold global investors meet in November
Chhattisgarh Government being headed by Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh will be organising maiden global investors' meet in Raipur on November 2 and 3,2012.

Narendra Modi to hoist national flag in Junagarh
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be hoisting the national flag in Junagarh on August 15, 2012.


Do Indian IT companies cheat double way?
It is heard that Indian IT companies lure employee to onsite visit, pay them less than what a H1B visa holder would be paid and save tax as well. B1 visa is not for work and Indian IT companies misuse it most. This is the bone of contention between US government and the Indian IT companies on the visa issue. How would we take it if some one from Bangladesh, Pakistan etc countries comes to India on an illegal visa and work and steal our jobs.

BUREAUCRACY

Turf war between IAS and IFS
After the posting of Dinkar Kullar in Brusells, a turf war has started between the IAS and IFS lobbies. The post was earlier held by an IAS officer. The Commerce Minister has already expressed his displeasure over the posting of an IFS officer. IFS, however, claim that the post belongs to their service.

Did Gujral decline graceful exit to IMF ?
If insiders are to be believed, name of outgoing Secretary Revenue R S Gujral had been cleared for the post of ED IMF in place of Dr Arvind Virmani. A1976 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre Gujral, however, declined the offer and preferred to go to Expenditure. Infact, PMO wanted a graceful exit of Gujral.

Why Sumit Bose was brought to Revenue ?
Why did P Chidambaram bring Sumit Bose from Expenditure to Revenue? This is the hot topic of discussion in the Corridors of power and the Corporate World. In this system Sumit Bose is known for his honesty and intergrity besides P Chidambaram wanted continuity in Revenue Secretary till the budget for 2013-14.

FSB takes place
Meeting of the Foreign Service Board has taken place last week.

Karnal Singh to join ED in Chandigarh today
Karnal Singh is joining the Enforcement Directorate in Chandigarh as Special Director on Monday. He is a 1984 batch IPS officer of UT cadre. This is newly created post.
(We said this on July 13)

Railway GMs panel to be cleared this week
The panel of senior Railway officers for elevation as General Managers(GMs) is expected to be cleared by the PMO this week.



Ms. Panse's file of Allahabad Bank's CMD in ACC
The file relating to appointment of Ms. Shubhalakshmi Panse as Chairman and Managing Directors(CMD) of Allahabad Bank in Kolkata has reached the ACC.Presently, she is an Executive Director (ED) with the Vijaya Bank.
(We said this earlier and on January 18, 2012)

K Mathivanan empanelled as Joint Secretary in GoI
K Mathivanan, a 1998 batch SGSL batch officer of Central Secretariat Services, has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or equivalent under CSS in Government of India.

Gulzar Natarajan joins Harvard

Gulzar Natarajan (IAS, 1999, AP) has joined the MPA-ID Program at Harvard Kennedy School of Government on a full scholarship.

Jairaj replaces Sudarshan in Manipal Group ?
K Jairaj is reported to have replaced Anand Sudarshan as CEO of the Manipal Group. Has he really replaced? He is retired 1976 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.

J P Dua shortlisted for BIFR
As the grapevine has it, J P Dua, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD) of the Allahabad Bank has been shortlisted for the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).

Hirdesh Kumar likely to get a two-years extension
Hirdesh Kumar running on five-year inter-cadre deputation in UP is likely to get another extension for two years. He is a 1999 batch IAS officer of J&K cadre.


11 vacancies of Administrative Member in CAT
There are going to be 13 vacancies of the Administrative Member in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) during 2013. One can apply to the DoPT by October 1.

Bhopal connection of new CEA Raghuram Govind Rajan
Raghuram Govind Rajan newly appointed Chief Economic Adviser (CEA)in Finance ministry of India has a Bhopal connection. Well Bhopal happens to be his birth place where he was born on February 3,1963. He is a product of IIT-Delhi where from he did his B. Tech and did his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and Ph.D from globally famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT). He is considered to be an economist is against subsidies and favours free markets.

Karnataka Government will not go by SC guideline in appointment of DGP
The Karnataka Government will no longer consult the UPSC as directed by the Supreme Court in the appointment of DGP. The State Government has amended the Karnataka Police Act,1963. Now the appointment will be done by the group of ministers headed by the Chief Minister and would comprise the Home Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition.. The DG will be appointed from among the top three senior-most IPS officers on the basis of seniority, merit and service records.

New Resident Commissioner for UP in Delhi after CS' arrival
It is heard that UP CM has already finalised the name for RC of UP in Delhi. But the appointment will take place only after the Chief Secretary/Principal RC gets back from foreign tour.

Three Director level vacancies in DIPP
Three positions of Director level are vacant in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).Two posts are of CSS cadre and one for Central Stopping Scheme.

Now IPS officers to be inducted as IG in RPF ?
Because of security reasons seven IPS officers are likely to be inducted as IG in Railway Protection Force (RPF) shortly. IG level officers of RPF cadre are against it so the matter is going slow.

IPS officer Sengar to be Director, ICCR ?
Amrendra Kumar Sengar, Regional Passport Officer, Ghaziabad is likely to be appointed as Director, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Hagul, Netherland. He is a 1995 IPS officer of UP cadre.

Mordia to be DD, IB ?
Piyush Mordia, DIG,UP Police, is likely to be inducted as Deputy Director, IB, Government of India . He is a1998 IPS officer batch of UP cadre.

Neeraj Kumar to join BPR&D !
Neeraj Kumar Gupta, SP in Kerala is likely to be appointed as Principal, Central Detective Training School located in Ghaziabad in BPR & D. He is a 2005 batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre.

Manoj Lal moves to Delhi
Manoj Kumar Lal, Joint Director, SIB, Kohima-Nagaland, has been transferred to Delhi. He has replaced Dinkar Gupta IPS. Lal is a 1988 batch IPS officer of AGMU cadre.

Yadav to return to CBI ?
Ajay Kumar Yadav, OSD to ex-Home Minister, P Chidambaram, is likely to return to parent cadre. He is an HP cadre IPS officer of 1996 batch.

Bhavna Saxena is DD, IB in Hyderabad
Ms. Bhavna Saxena, Addl.Deputy Director (FRRO) Hyderabad has joined as Deputy Director,(DD) Intelligence Bureau Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Government of India. She is a 1996 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
(We said this on 10 July 2012)

Post of ADG, Jharkhand Armed Police may fall vacant soon?
As the grapevine has it, Madhav Vishnuvardhan Rao, ADG Jharkhand Armed Police may join Central Para-military Forces soon. He is a 1987 batch IPS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

Ajay Kumar to move to Tehran
First Secretary in Baharin Ajay Kumar has been moved to the Indian Embassy in Tehran.

14 officers found in corrupt practices in Defense
As many as 14 officials have been charged with corrupt practices in Department of Defense Production. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has recommended action against such officers.


Ms. Gupta shifted as DG (T&R), CAG
Ms. Meenakshi Gupta, Director General (DT) in the office of C&AG of India, has been transferred and posted as Director General (Training & Research) in this office under the Comptroller & Auditor General of India.

Anjali Tewari posted as OSD, CCIT, Delhi region (UPDATED)
Anjali Tewari, Commissioner of Income Tax, has been posted as OSD in the office of CCIT (CCA), Delhi region.

Orders of Rajiv Takru as AS & FA, Health in GoI issued (UPDATED)
The appointment orders of Rajiv Takru as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India have been issued. Takru who is presently Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting belongs to a 1979 batch IAS of Gujarat cadre.
(We said this on August 8, 2012)

B N Sharma relieved to join Power ministry (UPDATED)
B N Sharma has been relieved by Rajasthan Government to join as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Power in Government of India. He is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.
(We said this on July 9, 2012)


Mukesh Kumar Sharma is also PS, Health in Rajasthan (UPDATED)
Mukesh Kumar Sharma, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Medical Education, has been assigned additional charge of Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Rajasthan. He is a 1984 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.

A K Gupta is also Chairman of UPPCL (UPDATED)
1979 batch IAS officer A K Gupta has also become Chairman UPPCL after Awanish Awasthi was shown the door during two grid failures. He has handled the situation since then briliiantly.


V S Babu selected as Director (Pers), ECIL (UPDATED)
V S Babu, GM, NPCL, has been selected for the post of Director (Personnel), Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on August 13, 2012. As many as seven persons were interviewed for the same.

CORPORATE

Disinvestment process of three PSU's to start this year
Disinvestment of the MMTC, Hindustan Copper and Neyveli Lignite would go under the hammer this financial year.

Reliance Communications AGM on September 4
The Annual General Meeting (SGM)of the Reliance Communications Company is scheduled to be held on September 4, 2012, at 12.00 noon Venue for the AGM will be Birla Matushri Sabhagar, 19, New Marine Lines, Mumbai.

Hindustan Unilever CEO in newly constituted BSIIAC
Hindustan Unilever CEO and MD, Nitin Pranjpaye has been inducted as Member in newly constituted Bihar State Industrial Investment Advisory Council (BSIIAC) in Bihar.

Mathur appointed CFO Cairn India
Sudhir Mathur appointed Chief Financial Officer Cairn India Ltd

Ms.Pooja Agrawal quits Paramount Cosmetics India Ltd
Ms. Pooja Agrawal resigns as Company Secretary, Paramount Cosmetics India Ltd

Ms.Gandhi appointed Company Secretary Paramount Cosmetics India Ltd
Ms Sarika Gandhi has been appointed as Company Secretary of Paramount Cosmetics India Ltd

Takale quits Jog Engineering Ltd
Ms.Gauri Takale has resigned as Company Secretary of Jog Engineering Ltd

Two Directors cease to be on Board of KBS India Ltd
Ganshyam Karkera and Ms Madhu Shah have resigned as Directors of KBS India Ltd

Rao quits Remsons Industries
Ms Saroj N Rao has resigned as Independent Director of Remsons Industries.

Agrawal appointed Director (Finance), Remsons Industries
Anil K Agrawal has been appointed as Director (Finance)' Remsons Industries Ltd

Parekh appointed Company Secy., Broadcast Initiatives Ltd
Leena Parekh has been appointed as Company Secretary of Broadcast Initiatives Ltd

Agrawal appointed Addl. Director, Godawari Power and Ispat Ltd
Siddharth Agrawal has been appointed as Additional Director of Godawari Power and Ispat Ltd

Mathur appointed CFO, Cairn India
Sudhir Mathur appointed Chief Financial Officer Cairn India Ltd

Wagle appointed MD, Kuoni India
Rajeev Wagle has been appointed as MD of Kuoni India.

Chacko appointed as COO of Vedanta' Power Plant
Philip Chacko has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd of Vedanta Group

Sud appointed Director of Lanco Infratech
Dheeraj Sud has been appointed Director of Lanco Infratech.

Natrajan now Deputy Chairman of VOC Port Trust
S Natarajan has been elevated to the post of deputy chairman VO Chidambaranar Port Trust (Tuticorin).

Hela appointed Director of Cinerad Communications
Dilip Hela has been appointed as Director of Cinerad Communications.

Baheti appointed Director of JSW Ispat Steel
SN Baheti has been appointed Director of JSW Ispat Steel.

Venkateshwar appointed Director of Wadala Communications
Ravi Venkateshwar has been appointed Director of Wadala Communications.

Reddy ceases to be Director of Aurobindo Pharma
PL Sanjeev Reddy has ceased to be Director of Aurobindo Pharma

(The views expressed in this column are of the contributors. We do not owe any responsibility, whatsoever, of the views of our surfers as they are their personal opinion. However, we would also request our contributors not to be personal, directly or indirectly, in presenting their views. Instead of countering the views which ‘X’ has already expressed, our contributors are advised to present their own views. Also be brief, say about 200 words at the most since any views longer than that if eliminated at our end would carry the risk of the contrbutor’s item losing its original essence)

Unfair procedure for selection of Dir JS and above under CSS (WIC 11.8.2012.)

Interview should be mandatory for deputation. CRs, now APARs, do not give complete picture of personality of the person in respect of knowledge, decision making skills and above all communications skills- both verbal and written. I know a person who did not know to properly write noting and lacked verbal skills but he was promoted to Joint Secretary level just because everyone gave him 'very good' CRs, on sympathetic grounds, since he had a good nature. Had an interview been held, then he may not have even become Director. Whether deputation or non-deputation, all promotions to the post of Director & above should mandatorily hold interview of candidates.

S Bharadwaj

Process of empanelment and posting is opaque

The entire process of empanelment and posting under CSS is opaque. Further, the screening committee downgrades the rating in ACR without any additional input and no reasons are recorded! Time to change the procedure.

S Gopal

Policy to retain retired officer needs review !

I agree that the policy to retain retired officer against unsanctioned posts needs a review. Whereas direct recruitment is being discourage, Government spends huge amount of tax payers' money by way of engagement of retired official or persons from the open market. This has increased the budgetary outflow, if accounted for properly. The views appearing in these columns are, therefore, worth supporting.

H G Upreti

RIT

Can the disclosure of advice given by CVC impede the process of investigation?

Information regarding the vigilance advice given by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in the matter of the appellant was denied by the Public Information Officer (PIO) citing the exemption provisions contained in section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act stating that the disclosure of the information would impede the process of investigation. The Central Information Commission (CIC) observed that it is not clear how the disclosure of the advice given by the CVC in this case including the relevant file noting would impede the process of the disciplinary proceeding/ prosecution of the official concerned. The advice tendered by the CVC is an input based on which the competent authority decides about the nature of the disciplinary action to be taken in any particular case. The Commission further held that the affected person should have a natural right to know about the advice and the manner it is tendered. The CIC directed the PIO to provide the advice tendered by the CVC in this case including the file noting leading to the advice.

Comments

The manner in which the vigilance enquiries are being conducted require a drastic change in the post RTI era. New mechanism and procedure need to be devised to effectively conduct the investigations in a transparent manner.

Citation: Mr. Vikram Angurala v. Central Vigilance Commission in File No. IC/SM/A/2011/901661

Weekly article by Dr. (Mrs.) Anuradha Verma
(dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in), RTI Consultant to IIM, Indore and Co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO's Guide to RTI by Taxmann. (The views are Personal)