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Ravi

Is incompetence a hallmark of team UPA?
There is serious problem of incompetence in the UPA government who take the pleasure in not doing much and instead in 'controlling' the situation which they cannot do effectively either. There has not been any concrete policy instead there is policing carried out by the ministers and their trusted bureaucrats say corporate sources. Status Quo Zindabad!

What is the Opposition's new slinging match?
First it was tirade against Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's ability, next was Ms. Sonia Gandhi's serious illness, when all did not succeed the new slinging match is circulating CD's ( doctored or sting operation as it isclaimed) of various ministers to the media .It is heard that there is a long list of various ministers and spokespersons whose CD's are going to be handed over to the media in days to come. To some use technology is being put to!

Is India serious about getting FII money?
FII's by now have a clear message from India, we are not sure if we need your money. There has always been a hitch in foreign investments coming in the country first it was controlling the Mauritius route (as too many companies were coming from there routing Swiss bank stashed cash), then there was a fear of Chinese companies coming into India masquerading themselves, when there was a profuse fund flow there was talk of Tobin tax and now there is GAAR. The FII's say we are clear India does not need our money as it is a country preoccupied with survival and does no even know whether it will survive in the near future. Is the Finance Minister listening?

Who is taking credit of fixing Abhishek Manu Singhvi?
It is heard that someone in the BJP is taking all the credit and praise of fixing Abhishek Manu Singhvi and has also got a go ahead to do more.

Is Prithviraj Chavan setting record of NCP straight?
It is heard that Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Prithviraj Chavan is taking a note of minute things in state government finances that are under the NCP helm of affairs. The latest being the question of Rs 77000 crs being sent on agriculture in the state in the past 10 years, but the rise of acreage if only 0.1 percent and drought in various places continues . Where has the money gone asked the CM from NCP Finance Minister Ajit Pawar?

Dr. K C Chakrabarty poised to be new ED ADB?
As the grapevine has it, Dr. K C Chakrabarty who is one of the four Deputy Governors (DGs) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is poised to be new Executive Director (ED) Asian Development Board, Manila. He is due to retire in June 30, 2012. Tenure of present ED Ashok Lahiri is reportedly coming to an end in July.

Two names in circulation for DG, RBI
As the grapevine has it, names of two bankers are in circulation for the post of Deputy Governors (DGs) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This slot is expected to fall vacant once Dr. K C Chakrabarty who is one of the four DGs of the RBI was posted as new Executive Director (ED) Asian Development Bank , Manila. They are: R. M. Malla Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of IDBI Bank and K R Kamath Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Punjab National Bank (PNB).

Interviews for Member SEBI concluded late night on May 8, 2012
Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth who headed the panel that interviewed nine candidates for two posts of Member, SEBI from 6 pm onwards on May 8,2012 was able to complete its job late night.

History of sorts created in interview for 2 Members in SEBI
History of sorts was created while a high powered panel being headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth that interviewed nine candidates for two posts of Member, SEBI from 6 pm onwards on May 8,2012. It was for the first time that interview of Dr.Asha Ram Sihag who is currently Senior Advisor to Executive Director(ED) of Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila was held through video conferencing. He is an IAS officer of 1983 batch who belongs to the Himachal Pradesh cadre. He is a product of IIT Delhi where he did his M. Tech. He did his Ph.D. from Cornell University, USA.

R K Tiwari to be Member CBDT!
In all probability R K Tiwari will be new Member of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).He is 1976 batch IRS (IT) officer.

New CEC to announce name of new President of India
This is for the first time that a new Chief Election Commissioner will announce the name of new President of India. Infact, the term of present CEC S Y Quareshi will come to an end on July 16 and the result of new President will be announced on July 18.

Who will head Indian Institute of Foreign Trade?
Who will succeed K T Chacko as Director of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade ?.Picture is not clear.Over two dozen retired and serving IAS officers have reportedly applied for the post.

22 Major General's to be Lt Generals
Altogether 22 Major Generals are believed to have been promoted to the rank of Lt General in the Indian Army.

Why number of EDs in banks is going up?
Why the number of Executive Directors (EDs) in banks is going up? As the grapevine has it, this is happening because Secretary Financial Services to the Government of India (GoI) D K Mittal wants banks to be quite strong in the sector of Information Technology (IT). It may be stated that Mittal is an IAS officer of 1977 batch who belongs to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Prashant Sukul's chances are bright for post of ICAO in Montreal
As the grapevine has it, chances of Prashant Sukul Joint Secretary Civil Aviation for India's representative at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Montreal, are quite bright. Present incumbent Arun Mishra will be completing his tenure in August 2012. Mishra is an IAS officer of the 1986 batch who belongs to the West Bengal cadre while Sukul is an IDAS officer of 1982 batch.

Rao is new CVO MIDHANI
G Surya Prakasa Rao (Director Level) has been appointed as Chief Vigilance Officer in the Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, (MIDHANI), Hyderabad. He is 1996 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Sharma to get UNDP assignment?
R P Sharma, IG (Pers.)National Security Guard NSG Headquarters Manesar Gurgaon likely to get foreign assignment under UNDP. He is an IPS Officer of 1986 batch who belongs to the Orissa Cadre.

Abhinav Kumar to join GoI?
Abhinav Kumar DIG, CID Uttrakhand Police is likely to go on central deputation as DIG. He is an IPS officer of 1996 batch who belongs to the Uttrakhand cadre.

Harmeet Singh promoted as JD in IB
Harmeet,Singh Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau New Delhi has been promoted as Joint Director. He is an IPS Officer of 1992 batch of Assam Meghalaya Cadre.

UT cadre IPS officer to join GoI
Jaspal Singh,DIG/ Addl. CP(Security) Delhi Police has been appointed as Deputy Director(DD) Intelligence Bureau New Delhi. His appointment as Director(Security) Rajya Sabha is also under active consideration. He is an IPS officer of 1996 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Vijay Prakash to joi GoI
Vijay Prakash, DIG, Special Task Force Uttar Pradesh Police is likely to go on central deputation as CVO under Central Staffing Scheme. He is an IPS Officer of 1996 batch of UP Cadre.

Sonmoni Borah is Director Public Relations in Chhattisgarh
Commissioner Chhattisgarh Housing Board Sonmoni Borah has also been appointed Director Public Relations in Chhattisgarh. He is 1999 batch IAS officer.

IA & AS officer Ms. Chakrabarty promoted as PAG, Audit, Delhi
Ms. Dolly Chakrabarty, Principal Director of Audit, South Central Railway, Secunderabad, has been promoted to the grade of Principal Accountant General (PAG) and posted as Principal Accountant General (Audit), New Delhi under the Comptroller & Auditor General of India. She is an IA&AS of 1987 batch.

54 positions of IAS officers vacant in CG cadre
As many as 54 positions of IAS officers have been lying vacant in Chhattisgarh cadre. There are 124 officers in the position against strength of 178 IAS officers in the State.

Nagma Mallick to be Ambassador to Tunisia
Nagma Mallik is being tipped to be new Indian Ambassador to Tunisia. She will succeed P S Randhawa.

Jasbir Singh moved from MEA
Jasbir Singh looking after US (SE-1) desk in the Ministry of External Affairs Headquarters has been transferred as Counsol to Birgunj.

One post of Member in PNGRB vacant
The post of Member in oil regulator Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is vacant.

V Krishnamurthy is a Deputy Secretary in MEA
Vijay Krishnamurthy on central deputation has joined the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as a Deputy Secretary. He an Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer of 1999 batch.

N.K. Nanda receives IME Golden Jubilee Award
N.K. Nanda, CMD(Additional Charge), NMDC Limited has received the Indian Mining and Engineering Journal Golden Jubilee Award recently at a function in Bhubaneswar during MINETECH 2012 National Seminar, for his outstanding contribution to iron ore mining. This prestigious award was presented by C.S. Gundewar, Controller General of Indian Bureau of Mines.N.K. Nanda is known for his exemplary services in the field of mining in particular to iron ore and steel industry. Nanda specializes in project planning and execution, development and has special interest in diversification activities. He has published and presented a number of technical papers during various seminars in India and abroad. He was also awarded "Eminent Engineer" award by Institution of Engineers, Bhilai. Recently NMDC was conferred with B.S. Star PSU Award under his leadership. Nanda in his acceptance speech had expressed the gratitude to the Industry and also dedicated the Award to his wife for her unstinted support to accompany him in various postings in mining areas of the country in last few decades. Mrs. Nanda was also felicitated during the presentation ceremony.

Bureaucratic reshuffle on the anvil in Nagaland
As the grapevine has it in near future there is going to be a bureaucratic reshuffle in Nagaland.

4 DCs to be shifted in Nagaland
As the grapevine has it in near future four Deputy Commissioners(DCs) will be changed in Nagaland. These districts are:Wokha,Peren, Zunheboto and Kohima.

IAS reshuffle in Haryana
Sumita Misra has been appointed Director General, and Special Secretary, Women and Child Development, Haryana and MD Women Development Corporation. Shrikant Walgad will be new Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana. Arun Kumar Gupta has been made Director General and Special Secretary, Development and Panchayats and Rural Development. C R Rana has been posted as Registrar, Cooperative Societies.Rajbir Singh has been posted as Director General and Special Secretary Food and Supplies, Haryana and Managing Director, CONFED.Rakesh Gupta will be Joint Secretary, Haryana, Health Department and Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission and Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration.Nitin Kumar Yadav has been made Director, Supplies & Disposals. Balraj Singh will now be Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad.A.Sreenivas will be Deputy Secretary Secretariat Establishment and Monitoring and Coordination Departments.

1985 IPS batch to be ADG in Lucknow
Eight 1985 batch IPS officers have been cleared for promotion to the rank of ADG in Uttar Pradesh.

Vaidya is now Special Secretary to Delhi CM (UPDATED)
Santosh Vaidya has been appointed Special Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. He is 1998 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Pandit is new Commissioner NDMC (UPDATED)
D S Pandit is new Commissioner of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). He is 1997 batch IAS officer of UT cadre.

Inter-Cadre deutation of IAS officer approved (UPDATED)
Inter-Cadre deputation of 2004 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre Ms Saumya Gupta to UT cadre has been approved for five years .

IRS officer Malik posted as OSD, CCIT, Kanpur (UPDATED)
Manu Malik, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax (ACIT), has been posted as OSD in the office of CCIT (CCA), Kanpur region.

Three IRS officers posted at NADT, Nagpur (UPDATED)
Three officers of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) have been posted at National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT), Nagpur. The officers include Ranjitha Voruvuru, JCIT, Bhavnagar, J Premanand, DCIT, Mumbai and SPG Mudaliar, ACIT, Nagpur.

Nine IAS officers shifted in Haryana (UPDATED)
Services of nine IAS officers of Haryana cadre have been affected with new assignments. Accordingly, Mrs. Sumitra Misra (Hy:90) has been posted as Director General, Women & Child Development, while Shrikant Walgad (Hy:91) will now be Chief Electoral Officer and Arun Kumar Gupta (Hy:92) is Director General, Development & Panchayats and Rural Development. Similarly, C R Rana (Hy:95) has been appointed as Registrar, Cooperative Societies; Rajbir Singh (Hy:95) as Director General, Food & Supplies; Rakesh Gupta (Hy:97) as Joint Secretary, Health and Mission Director, NRHM as well as Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration; Nitin Kumar Yadav (Hy:2000) as Director, Supplies & Disposals; Balraj Singh (Hy:03) as Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad and A Sreenivas (Hy:04) has been posted as Deputy Secretary, Establishment and Monitoring & Coordination Departments.

Transfers and postings in Railways (UPDATED)
Services of senior officers have been affected in Railways. Accordingly, Shailendra Singh, SG/ IRSME/ NR, on promotion to SAG, has been transferred to Railway Board and posted as Executive Director, Mechanical Engineering (Coaching), Railway Board while A K Singh, SAG/IRSME, presently working as EDME(Coaching)/ Railway Board is transferred to Central Railway and posted in the cadre and P K Tiwari, SG/IRSME/ RDSO, is shifted to West Central Railway and appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre. Similarly, J K Singh, SG/IRSME/Northern Railway, is appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre on Northern Railway itself; N SR Prasad, SG/ IRSME/ South Central Railway, transferred to North Central Railway and appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre; PRadeep Kumar, SG/ IRSME/ Western Railway, shifted to South Eastern Railway and appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre; H K Raghu, SG/ IRSME/ Western Railway, transferred to IRIMEE and appointed to officiate in SA Grade; Sanjay Biswas, SG/ IRSME/ Eastern Railway, appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre on Eastern Railway itself; V Selvam, SG/ IRSME/ ICF, transferred to Southern Railway and appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre; Sukhlal Birua, SG/ IRSME/ South Eastern Railway, appointed to officiate in SA Grade and posted in the cadre on South Eastern Railway itself.

Gyanesh Pandey selected as CMD, HSCC (India) Ltd (UPDATED)
Gyanesh Pandey, Director (Engineer), HSCC, has been selected as Chairman and Managing Director, HSCC (India) Limited at a Public Enterprises Selection Board meeting held on May 10, 2012. As many as 11 persons were interviewed for the same.

DEBATE

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked civil servants to take bold decisions, assuring them that there would be no witch-hunting in the name of fighting corruption. How far it is possible ?

Mail your views-mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com or Suresh. Mehrotra @yahoo.com

CORPORATE

16 candidates faced interviews for CMD, MMTC
As many as 16 candidates recently faced interviews for the slot of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), MMTC.

Iranians come knocking to India for non sanction trade
A delegation of Iranian and Turkish businessmen has come to enhance trade ties with India. More emphasis is on non sanction items said leaders of the delegation,as they eye on around $10 bn worth of trade in the coming year.

Soni appointed as director of IDFC
Sunil Soni Additional Secretary Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance has been appointed as the government nominee on the board of IDFC.He is an IAS officer of 1981 batch who belongs to the Maharashtra cadre.

Hirokawa appointed Addl. Director, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited has appointed Dr. Kazunori Hirokawa, as an Additional Director of the company.

Kulkarni resigns as Company Secy. Kirloskar Brothers Ltd
G. P. Kulkarni, Company Secretary of Kirloskar Brothers Ltd has resigned from the company w.e.f. May 8, 2012.

Bansal steps down as MD, Brila Ericsson Optical Ltd
D. R. Bansal, Managing Director of Birla Ericsson Optical Ltd has stepped down from his post w.e.f. May 3, 2012.

Bansal appointed Addl. Director, Birla Ericsson Optical Ltd
D R Bansal has been appointed as an Additional Director on the Board of Birla Ericsson Optical Ltd w.e.f. May 4, 2012.

Exim Bank withdraws Ravindranath as Nominee from Natco Pharma Board
EXIM Bank of India has withdrawn its Nominee C.P. Ravindranath from the Board of Directors of Natco Pharma Ltd.

Rao is new Exim Bank Nominee on Natco Pharma Board
T V Rao has been appointed as Exim Bank of India's Nominee Director on the Board of Natco Pharma Ltd.

Chandra appointed Addl. Director, Empire Industries Ltd
Empire Industries Ltd has appointed Subodh Chandra as an Additional Director of the company w.e.f. April 30, 2012.

Malgaonkar resigns as Company Secy. Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd
Ms Rita Malgaonkar, Company Secretary of Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd has resigned from the company.

Bhaskaradu resigns as Director, Global Vectra Helicopr Ltd
R S S L N Bhaskaradu has resigned as Director of Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd w.e.f. May 1, 2012.

Rishi resigns as Director, Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd
Swati Rishi resigns as Director of Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd w.e.f. May 4, 2012.

Dubey appointed President, EFI
Rajeev Dubey, President (Group HR), Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has been appointed as National President of the Employers' Federation of India (EFI).

Congress high command is deliberately confusing the announcement of a Presidential nominee. It will pull out a rabbit from their hat at the correct time. Like last time it may be a one time cook in 10 Janpath.

N Krishnan

Technocrat should have say in selecting TRAI Chairman

A real technocrat like Sam Pitroda should have a say in the matter of selection of TRAI Chairman. This eminent person has a vision, knows the subject, and will give like Bhishm Pitamah ,a perfectly correct
picture as to the merit of candidates who appeared in the interview to select the best suited candidate! but unfortunately, even Bhishm Pitamah had to serve Kaurvas led by Dhritrashtra and opt for Duryodhana. That is the tragedy of this country! Son of Dhritrashtra, although arrogant will chair the apex body, rest assured. Experience be dammned. Let no more space be wasted on this topic. An IAS officer will be selected and Bhishma will stand and watch from sidelines!

Ankur Rastogi

Let govt recognize merit

It is not clear whether Ramesh Kumar is happy that the IAS officers even if not having Telecom background are appointed as Chairman TRAI. But I think it is high time that Government recognizes merit and IAS
don't have the monopoly in all posts.

V K Verma

Any guesses?

Why the file of the members CBEC/CBDT is going like a tortoise?

Ahimanyu Prasad

Indiscriminate transfers

Indiscriminate transfer of Indian Information Service officers at junior level may dent the image of Congress led UPA government. It will also cost government exchequer in the from of transfer grants

Notish Kumar Singh

Is a penalty leviable if information is provided after the order of FAA?

An advocate had been removed from the panel of advocates of a bank. He filed an application under RTI seeking information related to his removal from the panel such as whether the branch manager has written a letter to the zonal office regarding his removal and whether he was removed on the basis of that letter. He also sought a copy of the said letter. The Public Information Officer (PIO) denied the information claiming what has been sought is not information as defined under section 2(f) and is beyond the purview of the RTI Act. The copy of the letter was refused stating that it pertained to internal correspondence between the Branch and Zonal office. However, the PIO provided the information on the directions of the First Appellate Authority (FAA). The appellant submitted before the CIC that the PIO should be penalized for the delay in providing the information. The Commission rejected the appeal noting that the appellant had framed the query in Hindi in such a way that some deductions would have to be made to understand the information he was seeking and thus the PIO's helplessness was understandable.

Comments

There are cases where a PIO may be confused while reading a RTI application whether an interpretation has been sought or the applicant wants a copy of certain documents. In such cases, the PIO may seek clarification from the applicant.

Citation: Mr. Narendra Kumar Gupta v. Allahabad Bank in Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2012/000593/18384

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)