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I think this is a great site to keep us abreast with a lot which is going on and likely to go on in the spheres of governance. It is a great effort. Thank you whispers

Dr C K Gariyali, IAS

Mamata to withdraw support on Tuesday?
It is heard that the vilification campaign by CPI against Mamata Banerjee has reached such a high in West Bengal that she is under pressure to withdraw support from the government. Sources say this is just the beginning she may withdraw outside support in a few more days if she senses that CPI's campaign against her continues making her lose ground in her home state.

Three new political scenarios?

Modi PM, Mayawati Dy PM
If the things go their way, BJP leader Narendra Modi would become PM and BSP Supremo Mayawati, his Deputy

Mulayam PM, Mamata Dy PM

Another scenario says that if things go their way Samajwadi Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav would become PM and Mamata Banerjee, his Deputy.

Nitish Kumar PM, Arun Jaitley Dy PM
Another scenario says that if things go their way Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would become PM and Arun Jaitley his, Deputy.

K H Muniyappa likely to be elevated
As the grapevine has it, in next reshuffle of the Union Cabinet, K H Muniyappa will be elevated to the Cabinet Minister's rank. He is likely to get the portfolio of Science & Technology which was being held by Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Will Chidambaram contest election from Pudducherry
P Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister is likely to contest next Lok Sabha election from Pudducherry instead of Tamil Nadu.

BUREAUCRACY

Will status of CAG be changed?
Constitutional experts say that the Government of India will not be able to change the present status of the CAG. If the status is to be changed on the pattern of CEC and CVC, the Government will have to amend the constitution that requires two -third majority in the Parliament.

Shamsher K Sheriff be Secretary General, Rajya Sabha on October 1
Shamsher K Sheriff is going to take over as new Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha on October 1, 2012. Presently, he is Secretary to Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari who began his second innings on August 13, 2012.He is an IAS officer of 1977 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.
(We said this on August 3, 2012)

Pankaj Jain posted as Secretary, Drinking Water
Pankaj Jain has been appointed as Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. He is a 1978 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre.

Jain is Secretary General, NHRC
Arun Kumar Jain will now be Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).He is a 1977 batch IAS Nagaland cadre.

Ramesh Abhishek elevated in Forward Market Commission
Ramesh Abhishek has been elevated to the rank of Additional Secretary in the Forward Markets Commission, Mumbai. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.
(We said this on September 11, 2012)

Amarjit Singh is Addl. Secretary, School Education & Literacy
Amarjit Singh has been posted as Additional Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy on in-situ basis. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.
(We said this on September 13, 2012)

Rohit Nandan made CMD, Air India
Rohit Nandan has been made CMD, Air India in the rank of Additional Secretary level on in-situ basis. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
(We said this on September 12, 2012)

Bhatti appointed IG in CBI
Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, IGP (Spl.Branch), Bihar Police, has been appointed as Joint Director in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He is a 1990 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre.
(We said this on July 10, 2012)

Anita Kapur to be new Member, CBDT
Ms Anita Kapur will join the CBDT in October as new Member. One post of Member will fall vacant following the retirement of K Madhavan Nair.
(We said this on July 6, 2012)

Vivek Dubey is new ADG in CRPF
Vivek Dubey, Director General, State Disaster Response & Fire Services, AP, has been relieved from AP Police to join on an approved appointment as Additional. DG, CRPF, New Delhi. He is a 1981 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.
(We said this on August 29, 2012)

Aggarwal to get extension in deputation tenure
Manish Kumar Aggrawal, Director, IORARC is likely get an extension in central deputation for one year. He is an IPS officer of 1996 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Chanchal Kumar may be given charge of DIPR in Bihar
Whispers have started doing rounds that after Deepak Kumar proceeds on central deputation, Chanchal Kumar, Secretary Building Construction Department, may be given the additional charge of Department of Information and Public Relations, Govt. of Bihar. He is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

Dy Director (Admin.) AIIMS seeks further extension?
Vineet Chaudhary, Dy Director Admin., AIIMS, reportedly, has moved in his papers to DOPT seeking further extension. Chaudhary is running on central deputation with Dept. of Health & Family Welfare for seven years. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre.

IRS-Customs officers disinterested for Ombudsman
The officers of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) of Customs appeared to be disinterested in joining as Indirect Tax Ombudsman at newly created seven Stations at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) had invited applications for the same by March 9, 2012, but it received only one application. Now, the Board has decided to re-advertise the post again.

Rohit Rathish to go Kabul
Second Secretary in Indian High Commission Port Louis, R Rohit Rathish has been moved to Kabul in the same capacity.

Amrit Pal Singh Suri promoted as Joint Secretary in GoI
Indian Revenue Service (IRS-Customs) officer of 1985 batch, Amrit Pal Singh Suri has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or equivalent in Government of India.

17 posts vacant in Andhra Pradesh High Court
As many as 17 posts of Judges have been lying vacant in Andhra Pradesh High Court against approved strength of 49. The vacant posts include four posts of Permanent Judges against 32 approved strength and 13 of Additional Judges against 17 approved strength.

3 officers found in corrupt practices in UD
As many as three officials have been charged with corrupt practices in the Ministry of Urban Development in Government of India. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has recommended action against such officers.

1997 batch IAS officers get super-time scale in Chhattisgarh
Two 1997 batch IAS officers S K Singh and M K Tyagi have been given super-time scale in Chhattisgarh. Ms Niharika Barik will get pro-forma promotion.

DoPT seeks applications for Senior Adviser to ED, ADB
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has invited applications for the post of Senior Adviser to Executive Director, Asian Development Bank, Manila under the Department of Economic Affairs. Those willing to apply for this Joint Secretary level post can send their applications to the Department at the earliest.

Dipendra Pathak shifted to Mizoram
Dipendra Pathak has been shifted from Delhi to Mizoram and posted as Inspector General in the state. He is a 1990 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Satyendra Garg transferred to Mizoram
Satyendra Garg has been shifted from Delhi to Mizoram and posted as Inspector General in the state. He is a 1987 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Mayank Sheel Chauhan shifted to Delhi
Mayank Sheel Chauhan has been transferred from Arunachal to Delhi. He is a 1998 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

S B S Tyagi moved to Delhi
S B S Tyagi has been shifted from Andman & Nicobar to Delhi. He is a 2000 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Romil Baaniya shifted to Mizoram
Romil Baaniya has been shifted from Delhi to Mizoram. He is a 2007 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Mrs Aslam Khan transferred to Lakshadweep
Mrs Aslam Khan has been transferred to Lakshadweep. She is a 2007 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Pankaj Kumar transferred to Lakshadweep
Pankaj Kumar has been transferred to Lakshadweep. She is a 2007 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Gaurav Sharma transferred to Lakshadweep
Gaurav Sharma has been transferred to Lakshadweep. She is a 2007 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Rajiv Ranjan Singh posted as ADCP, Delhi
Rajiv Ranjan Singh is being appointed as ADCP, Delhi. He is a 2010 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.

Haryana government transfers 13 IPS officers
Haryana government has transferred 13 IPS officers with immediate effect. While Prabhat Ranjan Deo, (HY:1986) IGP/South Range, Rewari has been transferred as IG/Training, Om Parkash Singh, (HY:1992) Director, Sports has been transferred as IGP/South Range, Rewari, PS Ranga, IPS (HY:1993) IG/Training as IGP/CTI Home Guards, Saurabh Singh, (HY:1998) Deputy Director, PTC, Sunaria as SP/Jind, Bharti Arora (HY:1998) DCP Traffic, Gurgaon as SP/Rewari, Sibash Kabiraj (HY:1999) SP/Commando as SP/Sirsa, Dr. Rajshree, (HY:1999) SP/Mohindergarh at Narnaul as DCP Traffic, Gurgaon, Satender Kumar Gupta (HY:2004) SP/Fatehabad as Deputy Director, PTC, Sunaria, Pankaj Nain (HY:2007) SP/Bhiwani as SP/Commando, Simardeep Singh (HY:2007) DCP/Ambala as SP/Bhiwani, Abhishek Garg (HY:2008) SP/Rewari as SP/Mohindergarh at Narnaul, Sukhbir Singh, IPS Comdt. 3rd IRB, Sunaria as SP/Mewat and Ashok Kumar SP/Jind as DCP/Ambala.

Suspension of IPS officer revoked in AP
A Hyderabad bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has stayed the suspension of IPS officer B Naveen Kumar.

Chennai Police Commissioner shifted
Chennai Police Commissioner J K Tripathi has been transferred. He will now be ADG Prisons.

Four IAS officers shifted in Himachal Pradesh (UPDATED)
As many as four officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) have been transferred and posted at different places in Himachal Pradesh. Accordingly, RD Nazeem has been posted as Divisional Commissioner, Kangra while Maneesh Garg will now be Divisional Commissioner, Shimla. However, Garg will continue the charge of Secretary, Finance and R S Negi is being appointed as Managing Director, HP Agro Industries Packaging Limited. Besides, Budhi Ram Verma has been posted as Divisional Commissioner, Mandi.

BHEL's dividend enhanced to all-time high 320% (UPDATED)
In fiscal 2011-12, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) maintained the growth momentum achieved in the year before, with a top line growth of 20% and an all-time high turnover of Rs.49510 crore. The company also recorded a quantum jump of 24% in its Profit After Tax (PAT) which was also the highest-ever at Rs.7040 crore. Significantly, with this BHEL has become eligible for 'Maharatna' status. This was disclosed by B Prasada Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, BHEL at the 48th Annual General Meeting of the company, here on September 19, 2012. Addressing shareholders, Rao said that BHEL recorded a 26% surge in Net Worth, which went up to Rs.25373 crore from Rs.20154 crore in the year before. Earnings Per Share (EPS) on the post split number of shares basis went up by 24% to Rs.28.76. Consequently, a total dividend of Rs.1566 Crore - the highest ever, has been declared for 2011-12, which is 320% of the paid-up capital (including an interim dividend of 136%). Rao said that despite stagnation in the power sector and intense competitive pressure in domestic and international markets, orders worth Rs.22096 crore, have been booked. At the end of the year, total orders in hand for execution in 2012-13 and beyond, stand at about Rs.135300 crore. It is an undeniable fact that the entire business environment was beset with a bleak performance during 2011-12 hit by various issues like high cost of capital, demand contraction in the economy, uncertainty in finalisation of projects and so on. In the backdrop of subdued investment in infrastructure in the country, the company has demonstrated its competitive advantage in its power sector business segment by winning most of the power plant & associated equipment orders placed during the year in the country, he added. Rao said that the prevailing economic and business headwinds are posing an immense challenge to sustain past growth rates in the near term. The company expects business sentiment to improve in the medium and long term. Against such a backdrop, efforts are being made to transform BHEL into a more efficient and focused company that can meet the tough challenges posed by increasing competition and exploit the great opportunities that lie ahead. In a bid to steer BHEL towards becoming a global engineering enterprise, the company has drawn up its 7th Strategic Plan 2012-17, he said. Re-emphasizing its commitment towards sustainable progression, the CMD said that BHEL manages its environmental impacts across the entire manufacturing value chain. Internally, various integrated operations improvement initiatives enable it to optimally manage key aspects of materials, water, energy, emissions and biodiversity in the larger interest of society. BHEL facilitates its customers in managing their environmental and social impacts throughout the entire operational lifecycle of the power plants by offering them state-of-the-art engineering and technology inputs for reducing green house gas emissions, water consumption, better heat rate, less auxiliary power consumption with less fuel requirement. Various performance reports from Central Electricity Authority, India and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), USA also explicitly indicate superior performance of BHEL thermal sets in terms of Plant Load factor, Operating Availability, Forced and Planned Outages.

GCNI conclave on essentiality of sustainable business (UPDATED)
Global Compact Network India, Southern Zone Hyderabad Chapter organized a Regional Conclave on the theme "Essentiality of a Sustainable Business", at Hyderabad on September 19, 2012. The conclave was directed to discuss the systems and practices pertaining to businesses on issues of land availability, labour, employment, resource optimization and sustainable environmental practices. The event witnessed the presence of Secretary, Ministry of Steel, DRS Choudhary as the Chief Guest. Speaking at this conclave on Essentiality of a Sustainable Business, he focussed on companies both from public and private sector to evolve the CSR initiatives by businesses involving stakeholders at the local level to further help in building the Trust Capital with imperative to see a shift from Philanthropy. Sustainability has become a part of our everyday business. Yet the concept is little understood. What is sustainable for the developed nation may not be sustainable in Indian Context. Everyone affects the sustainability of the marketplace and the planet in some way. Sustainable business may be summed as one which strives to meet the triple bottom line, the three-legged stool of people, planet, and profit. As businesses which meet the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. Speaking on the occasion, N K Nanda, Director (Technical), NMDC and Vice President, South Zone (GCNI) stressed upon the trusteeship model of Gandhi Ji and impressed upon the need that corporate sector should act responsibly and add value to both stakeholders and shareholders.

CORPORATE


Independent directors appointed on Board of OIL India Ltd
Oil India Ltd has appointed Anup Mukherjee, Ex-Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar, Suresh Chand Gupta, Practicing Chartered Accountant, Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT, Madras, Shekhar Chaudhuri, Director, IIM, Calcutta, and Gautum Barua, Director, IIT, Guwahati as Independent Directors on the Board of the company.

Dalal ceases to be Director, TV18 Broadcast Ltd
Shahzaad Siraj Dalal has ceased to be a Director on the Board of Directors of TV18 Broadcast Ltd.

Chatterjee has been appointed as Vice President, Daily News & Analysis (DNA)
Sorbojeet Chatterjee has been appointed as Vice President , Daily News & Analysis (DNA)

Vishwakarma appointed Company Secy., Rishiroop Rubber International Ltd
Rishiroop Rubber International Ltd has appointed Ms Amita B Vishwakarma as Company Secretary with immediate effect


Fernandes appointed Company Secy., United Van Der Horst Ltd
Agnelo A Fernandes has been appointed as Company Secretary of United Van Der Horst Ltd .

(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)

No transparency in appointments

There is no transparency in appointments of CAT,CIC etc. Now after the judgement of Supreme Court in Namit Sharma v UOI, not only there would be transperancy in appointments but also these places have to be occupied by persons having Legal qualifications as all of these tribunals like CAT, CIC, Consumer forums, Electricity Forums (CGRF) Ombudsman on many Public authorities have trappings of a court where right of parties are decided by observing Principles of natural justice, they also issue notices, pleadings are filed and speaking orders have to be issued. Thanks top Supreme Court of India.

Deepak Singh

Two types of Caste based reservations

Caste based reservations are of two types. One is for SC/ST which is to bring them into the mainstream and which was intended for only 10 years initially. No creamy layer applies to this till now. The SCs, also known as Dalits were outside the pale of "caste" Hindus. They were also called the "depressed classes", "achhoot", "awarna". With the nationalist movement for freedom and the socio-religious awakening movements preceding it, their condition was sought to be ameliorated. One among many such measures is reservation in jobs. Another is reservation in educational institutions. Yet another is reservation in elected bodies. There are many measures apart from these measures. Now, even in this class, due to the many decades of reservations and other measures, there has sprung up a class which has second or second/ third generation IAS officers/ MPs/ Judges etc. If these families continue even further to hog the benefits of reservation for their third/ fourth generation and refuse to be part of the general category, their poor brethren will never get upliftment. That is the issue. The other type of caste based reservations is for the "socially and educationally backward" castes, most of whom are dominant castes (and usually anti-dalit), rich, landed and powerful like ahirs, kurmis, banias, reddys, kammas etc. For these castes, which were also "caste" hindus, also known as "sawarna" the concept of creamy layer is already in place, however, they would like to perpetuate the system for ever and also dilute the creamy layer concept since the benefits of reservation (largely undue for this group) are very large and none would like to give up these huge (largely undeserved) benefits.

Arjun Mallik

Stop caste based reservations

If you want to remove casteism the caste based reservations had to stop. The reservations must only be based on economic criteria. It is not the people who belong to higher caste that are following the casteism. It is the people belonging to the reserved category that are following the caste system for the getting reservations and other benefits.

Krishnan

Caste based reservation in jobs

There are more than 2000 SC officers in the government and PSU in the senior rank of general manager and above. Some are Chairman Port Trusts , Many are Commissioner rank officers and their children must not get benefit of reservation. Infact children of IAS, IPS , IRS, doctors, engineers should not get caste based reservation in jobs.

Jyoti

Strong attraction

While the challenges of field assignments in these combatant forces are keeping the elite IPS cadre at bay, the comfort, and mostly urban postings, in the non-combatant Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has proved a strong attraction. Out of the 14 posts of DIGs in CISF - which guards airports, Delhi Metro and industrial facilities - all but one are occupied. Things, interestingly, change for the better at the IG level - a senior management role based mostly at headquarters or in cities. In CRPF, India's biggest paramilitary force, all only two out of the 17 IG-level posts are vacant. In BSF and CISF, all 11 and five posts are filled.

A J Singh

Serious crunch of IPS officers

Don't be too excited about less IPS officers on deputation in BSF/CRPF etc. There is a serious crunch of IPS officers at SP/DIG levels even in the parent state cadres

ARC Kumar

Vijay Kumar deserves extension

Vijay Kumar is doing very wonderful job and deserves an extension in the interest of CRPF in particular and as a whole for the nation.

Jitendra Rawat

RIT

Would Civil Services Officers' Institute provide reservation in Group C and D posts?

The appellant wanted to know whether the Civil Services Officers' Institute would provide reservation in the permanent Group C and D posts when these would be filled up in future. The Public Information Officer (PIO) informed the appellant that they had no permanent posts and that all posts were filled up with contractual employees. He also stated that the government rules on reservation were not applicable to their organization as they are a society. During the hearing before the Central Information Commission (CIC), the appellant submitted that the reservation rules of the government would be applicable to the Public Authority. The respondent submitted that it would not be possible to provide any information about what might happen in future. He also stated that at present they had no permanent employees and that all the employees had been engaged on contract basis. The CIC rejected the appeal stating that the appellant had sought information about the future and not about any existing information which the PIO was not obliged to provide.

Comments

Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, it is not open to the citizens to ask for information about what might happen in future. Only the information available on records can be sought through an
application and the PIO is not obliged to give answers to hypothetical queries under the RTI Act.

Citation: Mr. Harender Singh v. Civil Services Officers' Institute in File No. CIC/SM/A/2011/002337

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)