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Your website is very informative and gives a great amount of info across all levels.

S Rao

Are regional parties deciding national politics?
Ms. Mamata, Mulayam, Modi or Nitish (earlier Ms. Mayawati) have one thing in common. They are guiding National politics and are defining the course of events.

Is someone working on preparing Pranab Mukerjee's record?
It is heard that there is backdoor work is going on heavily to prepare Pranab Mukherjee's record, his alliances, his friends/ detractors, his corporate connections, etc.

A dark horse could get Finance Ministry
As the grapevine has it, a dark horse could get the portfolio of Finance Ministry at the Centre. As it is, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is the UPA's candidate for Presidential polls.

NDA yet to open its card for new Vice President
The NDA is yet to open its card for the Vice President's post.

Land prices soar in Baghpat
After saturation in other adjoining areas of Delhi, now it is the turn of Baghpat where land prices are sky rocketing. It is 52 KM from Meerut City and is on the main Delhi - Sharanpur Highway around 40 KM from Delhi. In the north of the district Baghpat there is district of Muzaffarnagar, in the south district of Ghaziabad and in the west river Yamuna and district of Rohtak (Harayana) are there.

BUREAUCRACY

Who will succeed P C Sharma in NHRC?
Who will succeed P C Sharma as Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)? Names of CBI Director A P Singh and Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta have started doing the round. Tenure of Sharma who is a former CBI Director is coming to an end.

Dr. Ajay Chhibber's name in circulation for new CEA
As the grapevine has it, Dr. Ajay Chhibber's name is in circulation for the post of Chief Economic Advisor (CEA). Presently, Dr. Chhibber is the UN Assistant Secretary General

V K Duggal is new Member NDMA
Former Union Home Secretary V K Duggal has been appointed Member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) He is a UT cadre IAS officer of 1968 batch.
(We said this only yesterday)

R K Singh appointed JS - I & B
R K Singh has been appointed new Joint Secretary - Information and Broadcasting Ministry. He is 1989 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.
(We said this on June 11)

No suitable candidate found for CMD, SCI
Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) did not find suitable candidate for the post of CMD, Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) at an interview meeting held on June 20. The Board has decided to see more candidates and re-advertise the post.

Will Swadheen Kshtriya be new DG Shipping?
Who will succeed S B Agnihotri as DG Shipping? The name of 1980 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, Swadheen Kshtriya has started doing the round for the post.

7 High Courts have acting Chief Justices
As many as seven judges are serving as Acting Chief Justices in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab & Haryana High Courts in the country.

Gyan Bhushan to be CGM, SEBI
As the grapevine has it, Gyan Bhushan on central deputation is going to be Chief General Manager (CGM) in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). He is an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer of 1993 batch.

Post of Joint Secretary & FA in Petroleum Ministry yet to be filled up
The post of Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor (FA) in the Petroleum Ministry yet to be filled up.

Gajendra Bhujbal prematurely returns to IES cadre
Gajrendra Bhujbal who on central deputation had joined as Secretary, BIFR has prematurely returned to his parent cadre of Indian Economic Service (IES). He is an Indian Economic Service (IES) officer of 1981 batch. His deputation would have concluded in 2015.

Major reshuffle of IAS & IPS officers in Gujarat soon
As the grapevine has it, a major reshuffle of IAS and IPS officers is slated to take place in Gujarat after June 21, 2012.

Abhishek Singh joins Harvard University
Abhishek Singh has joined Masons Mid Career Masters in Public Administration course at John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. This is one of the best MPA programs in the world and he is the only IAS officer selected for this program in 2012. Singh is 1995 batch IAS officer.

Ms. Sangeeta Sharma, Dy. Eco. Adviser, RB selected for 38th APPPA
Ms. Sangeeta Sharma, Dy. Eco. Adviser, Railway Board, New Delhi, has been selected for 38th Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) to be conducted from July 2, 2012 to March 31, 2013.

Anshuman Gaur moves to Paris
Anshuman Gaur has been moved as First Secretary in Indian Embassy Paris.

Ms. Bharti Sihag in fray for RC of Himachal Pradesh in Delhi
Ms. Bharti Sihag is one of the two candidates who are in fray for Himachal Pradesh Government's Delhi based Resident Commissioner (RC). She is a Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer of 1983 batch.

Restructuring of IRS-IT cadre in a limbo
Restructuring of the cadre relating to Indian Revenue Service (IRS) -IncomeTax (IT), working under the umbrella of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which had been finalised early this year, seems to be in a limbo because Union Finance Mukherjee who is UPA's Presidential candidate will be quitting shortly.

Dr N Sundaradevan elevated to CS grade in Tamil Nadu
Dr. N. Sundaradevan has been elevated to Chief Secretary's (CS) grade in Tamil Nadu. He will continue as Additional CS Industries. He is a Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer of 1979 batch.

Dr S Machendranathan elevated to CS grade in Tamil Nadu
Dr S Machendranathan has been elevated to Chief Secretary's (CS) grade in Tamil Nadu. Presently on central deputation he is Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor (FA) in the Steel Ministry. He is a Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer of 1979 batch.

Manoj Pandey to be Addl DIT in Advance Pricing Cell
Manoj Pandey who on central deputation so far was Additional Director General (DG) in the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on his return is going to be Addl DIT in Advance Pricing Cell of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). He is an IRS-IT officer of 1992 batch.

Raju is no more
First Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA), R V Raju passed away in Kochi. He was 1975 batch IPS officer of J & K cadre. Cremation will take place at Cochin at 4.30 pm.

IPS changes in Uttar Pradesh
Bhanu Bhasker will be DIG, Agra Range. P K Mishra will move as DIG Faizabad. Ram Krishna Swarnakar will go as DIG Recruitment Board. Satish Kumar Mathur will be DIG SIT Lucknow. On return from central deputation Bhajni Ram Meena has been given posting in PAC Fatehpur.

PESB seeks applications for post of Director (Tech. /PP), MCL
Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) is seeking applications for the post of Director (Technical/PP, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) falling vacant next year on June 1, 2013. Those willing to apply can send their applications to the PESB before August 23, 2012.

Post of Secretary, Textile Committee, Mumbai vacant
One post of Secretary is vacant in Textiles Committee, Mumbai on deputation basis. Those willing to apply can send their applications to the Joint Secretary, (A & MMT), Ministry of Textiles, Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi at the earliest.

US Embassy offers MCM course for Sr. IPS officers in India
US Embassy has offered Government of India a 'Major Case Management (MCM) Course in India at a local police academy from July 30 to August 7, 2012 for 24 participants at SSP and above level.

73 IRS officers promoted to DCIT (UPDATED)
As many as 73 Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers have been promoted to the grade of Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (DCIT). The officers include: Sumit Kumar, M Jayaram, K M Ashok Kumar, M B Padmavathy, Vishwas S Jadhav, P D Chougule, B S Landage, Revaiah, A L Prasad, Peme Tshering Bhutia, Akhilesh Bidalia, S S Negi, M K Jain, Sanjay Kumar, M Narayan Rao, Pradeep Kumar, V K Chagravarty, S H Solanki, S L Anuragi, Hiraman Ram, Yaduvir Singh, Awijit Rakshit, Alok Nath, Rajesh Kumar Mishra, Rajdeep Singh, Hemant Gupta, Amit Kumar Singh, AGV Prasad, Bedobani Chadudhuri, P Prabhakra Rao, Sudhanshu Dhar Mishra, V Amarender Reddy, Surabhi Sharma, Alok Malviya, Kalpana Singh, B Kurmi Naidu, Rlik Khare, Ajai Modi, Y Sesha Srinivas, Priyanaka Singh, Richa Rastogi, Rukmani Attri, G Suray Prasad, Prasoon Kabra, Saras Kumar, Yoginder Mittal, Anil Kumar Sharma, Abhishek Kumar, Lalji singh Yadav, Bhanwar Singh Ratnoo, Chandra Prakash Bhatia, Rajeev Kumar, Abhay Kumar, Khairnar Amol Bharat, K N Dandapani, Md. Shadab Ahmed, Howard Devisser, S Sankaralingm, Manu Chaurasia, Madanappagari Earappa, M Muralidharan, Ram Kumar Yadav, R Rajeswari, Kumar Pranav, V K Gurunathan, Subash K R, S Venkatesh, Rajat Kumar Kureel, Umesh Chandra Bharati, R Krishna Kumar, T Shering ONGDA and Poonam Sharma.

Six CIT/DIC made Members of DRP at Delhi and Mumbai (UPDATED)
As many as Commissioners of Income Tax (CIT) and Directors of Income Tax (DIC) have been made Members of DRP. Accordingly, Hari Kishan, CIT-I, Delhi, Mrs. Rashmi Saxena Sahni, DIT (TP)-I, Delhi and Mrs. Poonam Sidhu, DIT (IT)-II, Delhi will be members at DRP, Delhi-I while Kuntal Kumar Sen, DIT (IT)-II, Mumbai, Askhilesh Ranjan, CIT-XI, Mumbai and Mrs. Sangeeta Singh, DIT (TP)-II, Mumbai are Members at DRP, Mumbai-I.

Vishwapati Trivedi gets additional charge (UPDATED)
Vishwapati Trivedi, IAS(MP:77) Secretary, Ministry of Mines will hold additional charge of the post of Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment and also Secretary, Department of Disability till June 24 during the absence on leave of Dr. K. M. Acharya.

A major fire breaks out in Mantralaya, Mumbai (UPDATED)
A major fire broke in the Maharashtra Government's Mantralaya on Thursday afternoon that engulfed 4th,5th and 6th floor of the building.The inferno was so intense that it could not be controlled for over one and half hours.It is feared that all records on these floors were reduced to ashes.The 4th floor houses the Finance and Urban Development department, the 5th has the Chief Secretary's office while, on the 6th floor is the office of Maharashtra Chief Minister.

Seven IAS officers transferred in Rajasthan (UPDATED)
As many as seven IAS officers have been transferred and posted at different places in Rajasthan. Accordingly, Rohit R Brandon has been made Director, Harishchandra Mathur State Public Administration Institute while Rakesh Shrivastva will now be Principal Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Tourism and Managing Director, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, Jaipur and Mrs. Vinu Gupta is Principal Secretary, School and Sanskrit Education. Similarly, Bhaskar Atmaram Sawant has been made Commissioner, Rajasthan Primary Education Council, Rajasthan, Jaipur; Vaibhav Galariya as Collector and District Magistrate, Ajmer; Muktanand Agrawal as District Collector and Magistrte, Tonk and Rajan Vishal has been made District Collector and Magistrate, Jalore.

Transfers and postings in J&K (UPDATED)
Dalip Thusoo has been posted as Secretary, J&K Sports Council while Kiran Wattal will now be Managing Director, J&K Housing Board in Jammu and Kashmir.

P Dwarakanath selected as CMD, BEML (UPDATED)
P Dwarakanath, Director (Metro & Rail), BEML, has been selected for the post of CMD, Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) Limited at a Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on June 21. As many as 15 persons were interviewed for the same.

CORPORATE

Ravi Sharma to join US based company!
Outgoing CEO of Adani Power Ravi Sharma is reportedly joining US based company looking after energy sector.

ITI CMD Dhingra addresses ILO conference at Geneva
K L Dhingra. Chairman and Managing Director, ITI Limited participated in the Tripartite elegation of 101st Session of the International Labour Conference (ILO) held in Geneva (Switzerland) from May 29 to June 7, 2012 as a Delegate of Indian Employers. He addressed the Conference comprising of representatives of 184 member countries at the Plenary Session on June 6, 2012. Dhingra had a rare opportunity to speak on the very first day of the Plenary Session. The honor was bestowed for the first time on CMD of chronically loss making company at the prestigious international gathering.

Sheth resigns as Company Secy., Arrow Textiles Ltd
Ami Sheth has resigned as Company Secretary of Arrow Textiles Ltd.

Sharma appointed ED, Bank of India
Union Ministry of Finance, and Department of Financial Services has appointed B. P. Sharma General Manager, Punjab National Bank as Executive Director of Bank of India w.e.f. June 18, 2012.

Singh appointed Company Secy., Madhucon Projects Ltd
Madhucon Projects Ltd has appointed Ms. Nutan Singh as Company Secretary of the company w.e.f. June 6, 2012.

Mondal appointed Company Secy. Marsons Ltd
Hari Gopal Mondal has been appointed as Company Secretary of Marsons Ltd.

Walia appointed Company Secy. Vardhman Textiles Ltd
Vardhman Textiles Ltd has appointed Ms. Karan Kamal Walia as Company Secretary of the company w.e.f. June 11, 2012.

Andhare resigns as Company Secy. Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd
Ms Archana Andhare, Company Secretary of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd has resigned from the company w.e.f. May 30, 2012.

Sharma appointed Company Secy. Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd
Ms. Subhrima Sharma has been appointed as the Company Secretary of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd w.e.f. June 1, 2012.

K P Chhabaria appointed Chairman Emeritus, Finolex Industries Ltd
The Board of Finolex Industries Ltd has appointed K P Chhabria as Chairman Emeritus effective August 11, 2012.

Prakash Chhabaria appointed Exec. Chairman, Finolex Industries Ltd
The Board of Finolex Industries Ltd has elevated Prakash P. Chhabria, Managing Director as Executive Chairman of the company.

Dhanorkar promoted as MD, Finolex Industries Ltd
S S Dhanorkar, Assistant Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Finolex Industries Ltd has been elevated as Managing Director of the company effective August 11, 2012.

(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)

It's shocking!

It is indeed shocking news for all IPS officers who were trained by Saligram. It is rare to find such a large hearted and jovial officer like him. He was extremely friendly with probationers. However, it was not approved by some of his colleagues. Once I went to call on him at his residence. He was listening to Mehdi Hasan.

I can still remember the ghazal of Ahmed Faraz.

Ghame Duniya Bhi Ghame Yaar Mein Shamil Karlo Nasha Barhta Hai Shraben Jo Sharabon Men Milen

May Allah give him the choicest place in heaven and relief to his family. Aamin S M Afzal IPS, IG, SAF, Gwalior.

Why an individual is so indispensable?

Every body wants the ministry where there is power and money? If the government decides or zeroes down to a particular person, like in forces, the only choice is to accept or quit? There should be clear Orders by the Department of Personnel. Is the individual to decide where he should be posted or the government of the day. Very strange, God save this Country from the mess that has been created. There is news the present CS GoI will continue till election. Why an individual is so indispensable?

Ravinder kumar

CAT order on Andhra DGP

The CAT order, as reported in the media, has been decided on ground of "seniority". It is a bit confusing as the CAT had passed orders in the past that "appointment" is different from seniority or empanelment, which gave undue advantage to juniors from several batches. The DoPT also devised newer expressions to rubbish seniority. In fact, juniors were even appointed as supervisors to their seniors.

In several cases in ministries having several secretaries, the senior most was given charge where the junior came to "see" his/her files and "advise" the minister. What is the legal position? Do the seniors stand to protect their honour and dignity? .

The CPO officers are also taking VRS coz they have no future in the organisations. They Gets Third rate treatment, hard postings, & most of them retire as DIG, that to in the service span of 35-38 years of service. Situation can improve only if DG of CPO is from the cadre.

SR

RIT

Warning of misuse of the RTI Act From the LIC (Mumbai), the appellant sought the details of Probationary Development Officers and Development officers, whose resignation was accepted/ terminated by public authority during a certain period. He also requested that the information sought should be provided as per the format given by him. The Public Information Officer (PIO) denied the information by quoting the provisions of section 7(9) of the RTI Act that it would divert the resources of the Public Authority disproportionately. During the hearing before CIC, the respondent submitted that the information sought by the appellant pertained to about 3000 - 4000 Development Officers and that this information held at the divisional offices and was not available in the format provided by the appellant but were available in individual files of each Development officer. The appellant stated that he was the advocate of a Development officer posted at Jaipur - I office of the Corporation who has not received his arrears and that this information sought from the public authority will be used to enable his client to recover his dues. The Central Information Commission (CIC) stated that the RTI Act confers a cherished right to the citizen and this case was a classic example of misuse of the RTI Act. The Commission further observed that the appellant despite being a responsible citizen (he was a lawyer) has chosen to use the RTI route to harass the public authority with a view to getting an edge in the legal case of his client which was undoubtedly a very unprofessional approach to the issue. The appellant was advised to approach the Senior Divisional Manager, Jaipur - I to obtain the calculation sheet for release of arrears to his client. The Commission also warned the appellant to be more careful in future while using the right given to him under the transparency act.

Comments

There are many cases where applicants seek information in a particular format. If it leads to wasting of the scarce resources and time of the the public authority, the PIO is not bound to provide the information in a particular format. He may offer inspection of the documents to the applicant.

Citation: Mr. Ashok Kumar v. LIC of India in Appeal No. CIC/DS/A/2011/002087

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)