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Shashi Kumar

Cabinet reshuffle likely next week?
Cabinet reshuffle of Manmohan Singh Government is expected to take place next week after the return of Sonia Gandhi.

BUREAUCRACY

Sudhir Mittal to be Secretary, Fertilisers
Sudhir Mittal is being appointed new Secretary Fertilisers in the Government of India. He is a 1978 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.

Chhiber to be Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare
V Chhiber is being appointed new Secretary Ex-Servicemen Welfare. He is a 1978 batch IAS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre.

Will Jha replace Sarkar in PMO?
Santosh Jha is likely to replace Jaideep Sarkar as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's office. He is a 1993 batch IFS officer.

Justice Agrawal to move to Allahabad HC?
Grapevine has it that, Justice Tarun Agrawal is being transferred to the Allahabad High Court.

Srivastava elevated as Additional Secretary
Avinash K Srivastava, Jt Secy., M/o Corporate Affairs, New Delhi has been elevated as Additional Secretary in the same Ministry. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
(We said this on September 7, 2012)

A N Deshpande selected as Director (Tech.), EIL
A N Deshpande, ED, EIL, has been selected for the post of Director (Technical), Engineers India Limited (EIL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on September 7, 2012. As many as 11 persons were interviewed for the same.

Dr C B Venkataramana to be elevated
Dr C B Venkataramana, Jt Secy., Baba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is being elevated as Additional Secretary in the Department of Atomic Energy. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Deepak to be elevated
JS Deepak, Jt Secy., Commerce is being elevated as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce& Industry, Government of India. He is a 1982 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Anil Sant assumes charge as Joint Secy. in GoI
Anil Sant has taken over as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forest in Government of India. He is a 1988 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Will West Bengal CS Samar Ghosh get another extension?
West Bengal's Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee is quite keen for one more extension to present Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh who is retiring on September 30, 2012.

Five IRSS officers likely to be shifted
Five officers of Indian Railways Stores Service (IRSS) belonging to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) are proposed to be transferred and posted at different zones in Railways. Accordingly, J K Agarwal will be shifted from NCR to NR while P C Tamta is being transferred from CLW to SCR and D K Srivastava is set to be shifted from NCR to CR. Similarly, B K Mohanty will be transferred from ECOR to ER and A Srivastava is being moved from ER to RWF.

DG Jharkhand, Home Guards & Fire Services, to retire in November
Kumud Chowdhary, DG, Home Guards & Fire Services, is scheduled to retire in November this year. She is a 1979 batch IPS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

IRS (IT) officer A K Satpathy empanelled as JS in GoI
Indian Revenue Service-Income Tax (IRS-IT) officer of 1985 batch, A K Satpathy has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or Equivalent in the Government of India.

Jayant Sinha empanelled as Joint Secretary in GoI
Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA&AS) officer of 1990 batch, Jayant Sinha has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or equivalent in Government of India.

Shharat Sharma empanelled as Joint Secretary in GoI
Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officer of 1989 batch, Shharat Sharma has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or equivalent in the Government of India.

Taba transferred to Delhi

Tusar Taba, SP, AIGP (Estt.), PHQ Arunachal Pradesh has been transferred to New Delhi, Delhi Police. He is an SPS officer of 2002 batch who belongs to the AGMU cadre.

Shikha Goyal gets pro-forma promotion
Andhra Pradesh Government has granted Ms Shikha Goyal, DIG (Pers.), CISF HQ, New Delhi, a pro -forma promotion as IG. She is a 1994 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

Bhaskaran gets JAG in Tamil Nadu
Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) has been given to S Bhaskaran, SP, TN Police. He is a 1999 batch IPS officer of TN cadre.

Divya Gopinath posted as ASP in Karnataka
Ms Divya P Gopinath, Probationer, IPS officer has been posted as Assistant SP, Raichur District, Karnataka. She is a 2010 batch IPS officer of KTK cadre.

Reddy posted in Karnataka
Sudheer Kumar Reddy, CH, Probationer IPS officer has been posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police Bhatkahl. He is a 2010 batch IPS officer of KTK cadre.

Vartika Katiyar and Chetan get posting in Karnataka
Ms Vartika Katiyar Probationer IPS officer has been posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police Belgaum District. He is an IPS officer of 2010 batch who belongs to the KTK cadre. Chetan R Probationer IPS officer has also been posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police Bizapur District. He is an IPS officer of 2010 batch who belongs to the KTK cadre.

Alok Mishra gets selection grade
A 1997 batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, Alok Mishra presently working as Joint Director, (News), Doordarshan News, New Delhi, has been accorded selection grade.

Two IAS officers get fresh postings in Haryana
Two officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) have been transferred and posted at different places in Haryana. Accordingly, Krishna Mohan has been posted as the Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management and Consolidation Departments while Devender Singh will now be Chairman of the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) as well as CMD of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN).

Jacob to move to Beijing
Vinod Jacob, First Secretary, PMI in New York will move to Beijing in March next year as First Secretary.

Four officers found in corrupt practices in Syndicate Bank
As many as four officials have been charged with corrupt practices in Syndicate Bank. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has recommended action against such officers.

Transfer orders cancelled in Railways
The transfer orders of GVV Satyanarayana Raju SG/IRSE from SCR to CLW and Dr Kiran Mishra SAG/IRMS Addl.CMS from NER to ER as CMS/MD and Sunil Kumar Agarwal HAG/IRTS from SCR as COM to NR as CCM(PHOD), have been cancelled.

Railways transfers and postings
A number of senior officers have been transferred and posted at different zones in Railways. Accordingly, Arvind Srivastava SG to SAG/IRSS ER, has been shifted to RWF/Bangalore while Bikash K Mohanty SG to SAG/IRSS ECOR, is shifted to ER and Dhirendra Kumar Srivastava SG to SAG/IRSS NCR was moved to CR. Similarly, PC Tamta SG to SAG/IRSS CLW, has been transferred to SCR; J K Agarwal, SG, SAG/IRSS NCR shifted to NR; Akhil Kumar Singh SAG/IRAS SECR to ER and posted in the cadre; Murlidhar Madhur SAG/IRAS ER to ECR; S Mookerjee HAG/IRAS posted as FA&CAO, BM Krishna SG/IRSME RWF to ICF and posted in the same capacity; Ratan Kumar SAG/IRSE ECR posted as PCE on ECR; M Satheesh SAG/IRSE SR posted as PCE on SR; Ved Pal SAG/IRSE SER posted as PCE on SECR; Y P Singh SAG/IRSE NWR posted as PCE on NWR; R K Agarwal SAG/IRSE SER posted as PCE on SER; Satish Kumar SAG/IRSE NCR posted as PCE on NCR; J N Jha SAG/IRTS ER on being relieve from the post of DRM/Asansol SER, as CCM (CHOD); CBK Singh SAG/IRTS SER, as CAO(PTS); Ms Vijaya Sinha HAG/IRTS NR has been posted as CC(M)PHOD) on the NR and Parag Gupta JAG/IRSME DLW, has been transferred to NER.

Mahesh Kumar is also GM, Central Railway
Mahesh Kumar, General Manager, West Railway, has been assigned additional charge of General Manager of Central Railway from September 7 to 9, 2012.

CORPORATE

PSU officials to go on Europe Tour
A 20 member team of CEOs and officials of various public sector undertakings will visit Europe for a 'study tour' in October.

Sharma appointed Chairman & Whole-time Director, Alsthom India Ltd
Sunand Sharma has been appointed as Chairman and Whole-time Director of Alsthom India Ltd.

Carpentier quits Alsthom India Ltd
Francois Carpentier has resigned as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Alsthom India Ltd.

Ledermann appointed Vice Chairman & MD, Alsthom India Ltd
Patrick Ledermann has been appointed as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Alsthom India Ltd.

Pouliquen quits Alsthom India Ltd
Dominique Pouliquen has resigned as Director of Alsthom India Ltd.

Vijayendra appointed Nominee Director, UCO Bank
The Central Government has nominated BP Vijayendra, Chief General Manager, Reserve Bank of India as Director of UCO Bank.

Makhija appointed CFO, Crew BOS Products Ltd
Sanjay Kumar Makhija has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Crew B.O.S Products Ltd.

Kumar quits Aplab Ltd
Ms Neelam K Kumar, Executive Director of Aplab Ltd has resigned from the Board of Directors of the company.

Singh quits Prakash Steelage Ltd
Ms Sarika S Singh, Company Secretary of Prakash Steelage Ltd has resigned from the company.

Shedge appointed Company Secy., Prakash Steelage Ltd
Ms Pallavi Shedge has been appointed as the Company Secretary of Prakash Steelage 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)

Reservation and Representation

Article 16 of the Constitution guarantees equality of opportunity in matters of public employment and also mandates that no citizen shall, on grounds "only of" religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect of, any employment or office under the State.

However, it provides for the reservation of appointments or posts in favour of "any backward class" of citizens which, in the opinion of the State, is not adequately represented in the services under the State.

In terms of Article 335, claims of members of SCs and STs shall be taken into consideration, consistent with maintenance of efficiency of administration. However, Constitution (Eighty-second Amendment) Act, 2000 enabled relaxation in qualifying marks in any examination or lowering the standards of evaluation.

If democracy and development are allowed to dither the way we are accustomed to, portents are that various disadvantaged groups, which perceive inadequate representation in public employment, will escalate the demand for reservation further in laying claims to (specific) posts in key sectors/establishments e.g., judiciary, defense, atomic energy, banking, insurance, President's Secretariat, Vice President's Secretariat, Cabinet Secretariat, Prime minister's Office, PM's Economic Advisory Council, Planning Commission, University Grants Commission, Finance Commission, Private Staff of Minister et al.

SK Tewari

Quota on promotion will demoralise employees

Even if quota at entry level is acceptable, quota on promotion will demoralise employees. UPA Government opened this pandora's box suddenly to get the focus out of the various corruption charges coming out every day against it. They are helped by Mayavati, Lalloo and Mulayam all beneficiaries of Congress' benevolence in keeping them out of jail for corruption, stage managing the fracas in the Parliament. It is a pity that people like A. Raja who belongs Communist Party that recognise only class struggle and not caste struggle are giving credibility to this fraud drama. The present day reservation is fraudulent, since it is cornered by a few creamy layers. Some have managed this even for the thirds generations. It is time we stop all reservations and quotas based on one's birth and base it on ones economic condition.

N Krishnan

Reservation in promotion will break monopoly

Reservation in promotion will break the monopoly in establishment of a particular group of castes i.e. general. Power should not rest with only one group, if they had been unfair in implementation of rules, amendments have to brought in to see parity in establishment. There had been several officers in Civil Services from SC/ST communities, how many got promotions to the rank of Cabinet Secretary, Finance Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, Petroleum Secretary, Army Generals. When all these officers qualify same exams, get same training, perform same duties, but the junior general officer reaches to the top position bypassing his superior achiever (Sc/ST), this miracle is doubtful and some special provisions are needed. I have seen officers who joined
Civil Service at the age of 21 (S/STs) retiring as JS, while their counterparts (who joined at the age of 25+), retired as Secretaries. You may have read in media promotion of the then President of India (when he was in Civil Services), he was refused promotion after rank of JS (though he had track record in education), it was the then PM's intervention that he got his promotion as AS after struggle. What SC/STs have gone through needs to kept in mind, while criticising government moves for reservation in promotions.

Singh

WIC doing yeoman service

WIC is doing yeoman service by providing a platform to highlight the sorry state of affairs and harassment of honest officers. In another case an Indian Postal Service officer had the temerity to take on bosses. Madhuri Dabral enjoys a reputation of being a strong, no nonsense officer. She tried her best to eradicate corruption in the directorate of printing as head of department. She pursued the recruitment scandal which powerful ministry officials wanted to suppress to protect vested interests. She scuttled the attempt of Ministry officials to clandestinely sell off the valuable land belonging to government of India presses etc The officer was denied promotion. She is yet to approach the court.

Dimpy Chopra

There is already reservation in promotion

On the issue of reservation in promotion, let me point out that in Central Govt, there is already reservation in promotion upto Group A level. It is only after somebody reaches Group A, that further reservation is not provided. But within GroupA also, while promotion of General candidates is based on performance, that of SC/ST candidates is almost automatic irrespective of performance except top level appointments. Do we need to dilute further?

Pancham

"Reservation in Promotions"

Allowing reservations in promotions will have far reaching repercussions on inter se seniority of officers that will always be in a state of flux . The bizarre phenomenon of dynamic seniority will emerge . The seniors' performance will be appraised by their one time juniors who will get promotions by virtue of their castes rather than merit. This will promote, frustration and demoralistion among different castes. The Seniors will become junior to their juniors. Promotions will stop due to conflict of interests with number of court cases increasing exponentially.

A K Saxena (A retired civil servant)

Reservation in promotions is nothing but political gimmick

Government is not interested in giving benefit to anyone as is evident from timing of introduction of this bill in the parliament. All it wants is to divert your attention from Coalgate and other upcoming gates. Once a person joins job, he is no more a backward and hence should not demand and get reservation in promotions. Similarly wards of reserved category officials should not get reservation in any place. I wish a day would come when real beneficiaries of such steps would come out in the open and refuse to take the benefits of reservation. If ever, that day comes, They would be considered more than equals.

PKS

Bureaucrats shouldn't toe line of corrupt political masters

If only the civil servants show courage and refuse to toe the line of their corrupt political masters things will improve. But they can do so only if they value integrity and are free from personal greed. Unfortunately majority of them flow with the tide and amass gains on the way. There is always temptation to continue after retirement to enjoy all the perks and privileges and the Government is encouraging the same by offering to most of them post-retirement jobs. This re-employment of retired officers has become quite a bane of administration. Stopping this practice completely itself would be a very big step towards curbing corruption and encouraging bold decisions. Maybe the CBI works in a more independent fashion if its head does not have to look for a post-retirement job.

Aarti Khosla

RIT

Can an appellant demand inforamtion in Hindi under RTI?

The appellant sought information in Hindi regarding ICDS projects operating in Delhi including details of each project on a CD, number of Anganwadi centers operating along with details of Anganwadi centers, details of budget allocations for each Anganwadi and also the details of beneficiaries (women and children) of Anganwadi centers etc..

The appellant filed a complaint before the Central Information Commission (CIC) alleging non-disposal of his request by the Public Information Officer(PIO) and First Appellate Authority (FAA). The respondents stated that information has been furnished by all the 94 PIOs of different ICDS
projects to the appellant and that they had provided the information as available in the records and some on CDs in cases where the information was available as computer data. The appellant stated that only 71 PIOs had furnished him the information, that too in a delayed manner and it has not been translated into Hindi or provided on CD. Further, the FAA had not bothered to dispose off his appeal.

The CIC issued SCN to the PIOs as to why penalty u/s 20(1) should not be imposed upon them for not responding to the RTI Application within the prescribed time period. The CIC also directed the FAA to show cause as to why disciplinary action should not be recommended against him. The CIC ruled that there is no provision for translating documents and then providing them to the Applicant under RTI Act. The CIC also ruled that information may be provided on CD, free of cost if the information is already available as a computer record. Details of all ICDS projects including budgets allocated to them, details of personnel working for these projects etc. were directed to be put up on the website of the Department as per section 4(2) of the RTI Act.

Comments

Translation or reducing the documents to electronic form in order to transfer them on to a CD just because the Appellant wants the information on a CD, is not mandated as per the RTI Act.

Citation: Mr. Shiv Kumar Saxena v. Department of Women and Child Development in File No: CIC/AD/A/2012/000794

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)