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Shyamali

Will Nitin Gadkari get another term as BJP chief?
Will Nitin Gadkari get another term as Chief of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)? This question is a hot topic of discussion in political circles.

Sanjay Joshi's anointment delayed
Mystery shrouds the delay in anointment of Sanjay Joshi in the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

BUREAUCRACY

S K Gupta to be Judicial Member of CAT!
S K Gupta is being tipped to be new Judicial Member of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

Exercise for IAS changes in Karnataka on
As the grapevine has it, an exercise for IAS changes in Karnataka has begun. However, that will happen only after conclusion of the budget session.

Number of ACS in West Bengal is seven
With the promotion of 1981 batch IAS officers to the rank of ACS, the number of posts of ACS has now risen to seven.

Deputy Director, NPA, Vipul Kumar may get proforma promotion
Vipul Kumar, Deputy Director, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy (NPA), Hyderabad, is likely to be granted proforma promotion as the State cadre has granted him promotion as DIG rank officer. He is Karnataka cadre IPS officer of 1999 batch.

Post of ED in North Zone, FCI vacant
Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has sought applications for the post of Executive Director (North Zone) in the Food Corporation of India at NOIDA. Those willing to apply can send their applications to the DoPT within a month.

RS officer Mrs. Darde posted as AC, Tribal Dev. Nagpur
Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Mrs. Pallavi Darde has been appointed as Additional Commissioner, Tribal Development, Nagpur, under the Government of Maharashtra on deputation basis.

CBEC seeks nominations for WCO, Japan Career Dev. Programme
The Secretary General, World Customs Organization, has invited nominations from developing country Member administrations' for WCO/Japan Career Development Programme. The willing officers can send their nominations to Joint Secretary (Customs), Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) before March 30, 2012.

Post of Commissioner in CMPFO vacant
Ministry of Coal is seeking applications for the post of Commissioner, on deputation basis, in the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO). The officers who wish to apply can send their applications to the Ministry at the earliest.

Ms. Sinha transferred to SER
Ms. Jaya Verma Sinha, SAG/IRTS, North Railway (NR), presently working as CVO/T/NR, has been transferred to South Eastern Railway (SER).

Four IRTS officers get HAG
As many as four officers of Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) have been granted Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) The officers include R B Das, SAG/IRTS/ECOR, presently working as COM; S Mohan, SAG/IRTS/ Sr, working as COM; Deepak Dave, SAG/IRTS/NWR, working as COM and S C Jethi, SAG/IRTS/WCR, working as CCM.

Transfer list of DRMs next week
As the grapevine has it, transfer list of Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) may come out next week.

Process of changes in Manipur to be slow
As the grapevine has it, transfers & postings of bureaucrats in Manipur may come out at a slower pace.

Srivastava transferred to Northern Railways
Ashwani Srivastava, JAG/IRTS/IRITM, has been transferred to Northern Railways.

Ms. Verma shifted to IRITM
Ms Veena Verma, JAG/IRTS/NER, working as Dy CVO, has been transferred to Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management (IRITM).

Narendra K Chand posted as Addl. Director, SFIO, Delhi
Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, Narendra Kumar Chand has been, on deputation basis, appointed as Additional Director (Investigation) in Ministry of Corporate Affairs in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), New Delhi.

BHEL adds 1,625 MW power generating capacity to National Grid(UPDATED)
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved a new landmark in capacity addition with four of its projects, viz. 525 MW Unit-2 of Maithon Power, 500 MW Unit-2 of KPCL Bellary, 500 MW Unit-2 of DVC Durgapur and 100 MW Unit-4 of THDC Koteshwar (Hydro) getting synchronized and achieving full load in the last 24 hours. With this, the total power project capacity commissioned by BHEL in the current year till March 23, 2012 stands at 7,900 MW. The company has established the capability to deliver 15,000 MW per annum and further augmentation to 20,000 MW per annum is underway.

SAIL Chairman inaugurates emission free COBs at Bokaro Steel Plant (UPDATED)
SAIL Chairman CS Verma inaugurated two rebuilt Coke Oven Batteries (COBs) of Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) on March 24, 2012, in presence of Director (Personnel) BB Singh, Director (Technical) & BSL CEO SS Mohanty, senior officers and a large gathering of enthusiastic employees. He also inaugurated the Coil Packaging Line-2 of the new Cold Rolling Mill. Yet another facility inaugurated by SAIL Chairman was the recently set up Centre of Excellence. Re-built at a cost of Rs. 500 crores, the two COBs of BSL are completely emission free, with a high level of automation and increased productivity. Part of the 8-battery complex, these two COBs share the same basic dimensions, while improving upon other technical aspects. The other facility inaugurated - Coil Packaging Line-2 - is part of the new 1.2 MTPA Cold Rolling Mill complex, being built at a total cost of Rs. 3000 crores. This mill is in the final phases of equipment testing and commissioning. Addressing a cross-section of employees from SAIL's different units operating from Bokaro, Verma re-affirmed his confidence in the huge potential of BSL and underscored the key role this unit is slated to play in realising SAIL's Vision 2020. He lauded the efforts of the BSL collective in developing new products, finding breakthrough solutions to technological challenges and tapping the potential of available production facilities. Verma laid special emphasis on accelerating the implementation of projects so as to reap early benefits from these investments.

Budget in Goa delayed (UPDATED)
Presentation of budget by Goa Government in the state assembly has been delayed in the wake of death of Tourism Minister Matanhy Saldanha. Budget will now be presented on March 26,2012.

Government working in Odisha paralysed (UPDATED)
Government working Odisha has been totally paralysed owing to abduction of Jhina Hikaka,an MLA of ruling party by Maoists.

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

Singh promoted as Joint MD, ITL Industries Ltd
Mahendra Singh Jain has been promoted as Joint Managing Director of ITL Industries Ltd w.e.f. November 12, 2012.

Goel appointed Company Secy. Crew B.O.S. Products Ltd
Ashish Goel has been appointed as Company Secretary of Crew B.O.S. Products Ltd w.e.f. March 23, 2012 .

NSIC signs MoU with MSMEs
National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Memorandum of Understanding for the year 2012-13 was signed by Dr. H P Kumar, CMD, NSIC with R K Mathur Secretary, MSME, Government of India .The said MoU envisages provision of enhanced services under Financial Support, Marketing Support, Technology Services and other support services for the MSMEs in the country. Also present during the MOU signing ceremony were Ravindra Nath, Director (Fin),NSIC , P Udaya Kumar, Director (P&M),NSIC, Amarendra Sinha ,AS&DC(MSME) and Jitesh John, Director, MSME.

Company Secy. of Mangalam Timber Products Ltd, Kabra resigns
Ms Charulata Kabra, Company Secretary of Mangalam Timber Products Ltd, has resigned w.e.f. March 14, 2012.

Priya appointed Company Secy. Mangalam Timber Products Ltd
Namrata Priya has been appointed as Company Secretary of Mangalam Timber Products Ltd w.e.f. March 20, 2012.

Patel re-appointed Exec. Vice Chairman, Patel Integrated Logistics Ltd
Patel Integrated Logistics Limited has re-appointed Areef A. Patel as the Executive Vice Chairman of the company w.e.f. April 1, 2012.

Selection process of IAS needs drastic reform

I appreciate the increased number of requirement of IAS officers but at the same time the process of selection of IAS needs drastic reform as the officers coming in the top cadre are oblivious of the needs of vulnerable masses in Indian society. Media talks of rapes, loot , murder in Urban Area but the vulnerable masses in rural India are raped murdered robbed every moment by the mighty. This is not by force or so but to meet their two time meals. In agriculture fields, masses are not given work as labour if they (young girls and poor women) don’t reach the houses of the Zamindars early in the morning at 4 AM to lift the dung of their animals.


B S Satyarthy

Rahul Sharma is an upright and competent officer

I was posted as CVO of Western Railway, Mumbai, from April 2004 to June 2005. During that period I came to know Rahul Sharma and found him to be a very honest, upright and competent officer as also an excellent human being. May God continue to bless him.

Amitabh Datta

Usmani as UP Chief Secretary - Excellent choice

I congratulate the person who suggested the UP Government to take Javed Usmani, IAS, as the Chief Secretary. I being from Aligarh know him personally as a friend and guide to me as well. He is the person who was a guiding force to me to try for Civil Services after him in 1979 in Aligarh. I remember Azam Khan Sahib was also one of the close seniors in AMU Aligarh. I wish him all the best.

B S Satyarthy

May God bless the new born!

May Waheguru bless the Son (of Martyr Narinder Kumar Singh, IPS) with long life. Sir, rest in eternal peace. Your unfinished work of eliminating the Mafia will be carry forward by your brave son.

Inderjeet Singh

Are the details of the service book liable to be disclosed?

The estranged wife of a government servant asked whether the name of wife has been entered in the Service Book of her husband; If yes, the name as entered in the Service Book; and the name of the nominee & his successor. The appellant also sought the attested photocopy of Service Book and GPF documents of her husband, Shri R B Bhavuk. The third party strongly objected to the disclosure of the requested information on the plea that the same was his personal information and moreover, if disclosed it would not only endanger his life but also the life of the nominee as well. The CPIO declined to disclose the information under Section 8(1)(g) & (j) of the RTI Act. The Commission observed that whether the name of the wife has been entered in the Service Book of any employee is relevant to the functioning of the personnel and establishment division of the Public Authority. Hence, the Commission directed to disclose in 'Yes' or 'No' whether the name of the wife has been entered in the Service Book of her husband. Refusal of the information about the GPF and nominees was upheld under section 8(1) (j).

Comments

Some parts of the Service Book are personal in nature where other parts are purely administrative in nature. The places of posting, total period and category of leave availed of from time to time etc. ae administrative information and can be disclosed.

[Smt. Nirmala Bhavuk v. Central Excise & Customs in Appeal No. CIC/SS/A/2012/000107]

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)