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Gopal K Garg

POLITICS

Inside story of big shot (8) ?
Total silence of the SEBI and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in the matter of Directorship of a Kolkata based big business tycoon has amazed the North and the South Block.

Why have no political names come up in Chopper deal?
There is a lot of political gossip and conjecture as to why there are no political names coming up in the Agusta Westland deal.

Why Bhagwat did not attend RSS -BJP meet?
The absence of Mohan Bhagwat in the recent RSS-BJP meet is being discussed in the corridors of power. Is it something to do with the Gadkari episode or are there other reasons for him being miffed is the whisper making rounds.

Why Kapil Sibal is quiet ?
Why Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal is quiet these days ? This is the hot topic of discussion in the political circles.

BUREAUCRACY

Who will be new Telecom Secretary ?
Who will succeed Rentala Chandrasekhar as new Secretary Telecom on April 1 ? In the corridors of power names of Jitesh Khosla and Sunil Kumar are in circulation. While the 1979 batch IAS Sunil Kumar is presently Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh, another 1979 batch IAS officer Jitesh Khosla is ACS in Assam. Both the officers are empanelled to the rank of Secretary in the GoI.

Top Six of Jayalalitha -Five IAS and One IPS
1 R Rajgopal
2 Raja Ram
3 K N Venkatramanan
4 K Gnanadesikan
5 Dr Radha Krishnan
6 K Ramanujam

Amar Sinha poised to be Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan
Amar Sinha, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, is poised to become India's new Ambassador to Afghanistan. Sinha, also poised for empanelment as Additional Secretary, would succeed Gautam Mukhopadhyay reportedly by first week of April. He is a 1982 batch officer of Indian Foreign Service.

Raghu Menon joins Prasar Bharti
Former I & B Secretary, Raghu Menon has joined the Prasar Bharti as Advisor (Archives) in Pune. He is a former 1974 batch IAS officer of Nagaland cadre.

Madhav Lal relieved to join central deputation
Outgoing Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Government, Madhav Lal, has been relieved to join central deputation as Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). He is a 1977 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre.

Iqbal Khandey is new Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir
Mohammed Iqbal Khandey has been appointed as new Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir. He is a 1978 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre. He succeeded Madhav Lal after latter was deputed to Government of India as Secretary, MSME.
(We said this on Jan 12, 2013 and again on Feb 8, 2013)

Will Archana Bhargava be CMD of United Bank ?
Will Archana Bhargava be able to join as CMD of the United Bank ? Only Finance Minister and Department of Financial Services can answer this question.

Will Justice Cyriac be Chairman of TDSAT ?
The Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal in Delhi has been without a Chairman ever since Justice SB Sinha retired. Former Supreme Court judge, Cyriac Joseph was recommended for being appointed to the post, but the initial proposal was turned down by ACC and the matter went back to Chief Justice for naming a new Judge. CJ of Supreme Court, with whom Justice Cyriac Joseph sat for a long time on the bench has however refused to reconsider. Considering the increasing pendency in TDSAT and the steadfast refusal of CJ to look beyond his recommendation , it is learnt that ACC is backtracking on its opposition and agree on the appointment of Justice Cyriac Joseph as the Chairman TDSAT.

G Bandyopadhyay selected as Director (Fin), WCL
G Bandyopadhyay, GM, CIL, has been selected for the post of Director (Finance), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on February 18, 2013. As many as 10 persons were interviewed for the same.

Who will be new VC of IGNOU ?
Who will be new Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Natonal Open University (IGNOU)? Tie is said to be between former Professor of the University Prof Aslam and Director of the IIT Kanpur Prof S G Dhande.

Top diplomatic slot in Brazil is vacant since November 2012
After the retirement of B S Prakash, Indian envoy to Brazil, in October 2012 the top diplomatic slot has been lying vacant. With the BRICS Summit spreading its wings for takeoff on March 25 the buzz becomes louder as who would make it as the next Indian Ambassador to Brazil.

Kamal Kumar is new DGP, Himachal Pradesh
B Kamal Kumar has been appointed new DGP of Himachal Pradesh. He is a 1982 batch IPS officer. Present DGP I D Bhandari has been moved as DG Home, Guards.

Who would make it as next Prl. Secy Finance in Punjab?
After Satish Chandra's appointment as Member Finance (NHAI) the speculations have started doing rounds in the power corridors of Punjab as who would make it as the next Principal Secretary, Finance.

30 DD level vacancies in IB ?
Sanctioned strength for Deputy Director (DD), Intelligence Bureau is 63 but presently actual strength is 33 and there are 30 vacancy.

B B Vyas is also Administrative Secretary, Finance in J&K
B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, has been assigned an additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Finance Department. He is a 1986 batch IAS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre.

Sauvik Majumdar empanelled as Joint Secretary in GoI
Sauvik Majumdar has been empanelled for the post of Joint Secretary or equivalent in Government of India. He is a 1984 batch officer of Indian Defence Estate Service.

IRS officer is new Secretary, CCI
Smita Jhingran has taken over as Secretary of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). She is a 1986 batch IRS (IT) officer.
(We said this on January 14, 2013 )

N K Sahu empanelled as Joint Secretary in GoI
N K Sahu has been empanelled as Joint Secretary or equivalent in Government of India. He is a 1985 batch officer of Indian Economic Service (IES).

Three Patna HC Judges to retire in 2013
Three Judges of Patna High Court are retiring in the year-2013. Accordingly, S Nayer Hussain will be retiring on July 17, 2013 while T Meena Kumari is due to retire on August 3, 2013 and Mandhata Singh is superannuating on December 20, 2013.

Ms Rudra Saha is PAG, A & E-I, Gwalior
Ms Rudra Saha has been appointed as Principal Accountant General (A&E-I), Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior after promotion to the Higher Administrative Grade. She is a 1988 batch IA &AS officer.

Yadav moves to Washington
First Secretary in Indian High Commission, Pretoria Mohit Yadav has been moved to Indian Embassy, Washington.

Divisional Commissioner is Adhoc VC in Rajasthan
Divisional Commissioner, Jaipur, Madhukar Gupta has been appointed Adhoc Vice-Chancellor of Rajasthan University. He is 1985 batch IAS officer.

Pachnanda proceeds on leave
R K Pachnanda who was removed from the post of Police Commissioner ,Kolkata has proceeded on two months leave. He is a 1983 batch IPS officer.

7 IAS officers transferred in Rajasthan (UPDATED)
As many as seven officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) have been transferred and posted at different places in Rajasthan. Accordingly, Ms Gurjot Kaur has been appointed as Principal Secretary, Minority, Waqf Board, Jaipur while Bal Krishna Meena will now be Principal Secretary, Science and Technology and Pritam Singh is Principal Secretary, Tribal Regional Development. similarly, Siyaram Meena has been posted as Principal Secretary, Ayurved Department; Dr R Venkateshwaran as Commissioner, Housing Board; Hemant Kumar Gera as Divisional Commissioner, Jodhpur and Neeraj Kumar Pawan has been made MD, Rajasthan State Food and Civil Supply Corporation, Jaipur.

11 IPS officers shifted in Rajasthan (UPDATED)
As many as 11 officers of Indian Police Service (IPS) have been transferred and posted at different places in Rajasthan. Accordingly, Janardan Sharma has been appointed as SP, Nagaur while Satyavir Singh will now be SP, Sikar and Gaurav Shrivastava is SP, Ajmer. Similarly, Gaurav Shrivastava has been posted as SP, Ajmer; Rahul Prakash as SP, Jodhpur, Rural; Mrs Mamata Bisnoi as SP, Intelligence, Jodhpur; Dr Ravi as SP, Security, Jaipur; Mrs Sweta Dhankhand as Deputy Commissioner, Police City (East), Jaipur; Mrs Priti Jain as Commandant, Police Training School, Udayapur; Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary as SP, Jaisalmer and Kunwar Rashtradeep was made SP, Hanumangarh.

Abha Shukla is JS Road Transport (UPDATED)
Abha Shukla has been appointed as Joint Secretary Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. She is 1993 batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre.

Dr K Arulmozhi posted as PS, OBC, Minorities' Welfare in TN (UPDATED)
Dr K Arulmozhi, Principal Secretary, Economics and Statistics, has been appointed as Principal Secretary, Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and & Minorities' Welfare Department after this post was created at Higher Administrative Grade for a period of one year. Arulmozhi is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre.

Pawan Kumar Bansia returns from depuration to RVNL, posted to NWR (UPDATED)
Pawan Kumar Bansia, SAG/IRAS, on return from deputation to RVNL, has been posted to North Western Railway (NWR) in the cadre.

Diptiman Das returns from deputation to RCIL, posted to NR (UPDATED)
Diptiman Das, SAG/IRAS, on return from deputation to RCIL, has been posted to Northern Railway (NR) in the cadre.

Steel Minister reviews performance of SAIL (UPDATED)
Union Minister for Steel, Beni Prasad Verma has reviewed the performance of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for Quarter-3 2012-13 on February 19, 2013. He congratulated SAIL collective for crossing the Rs. 40,000 crore net worth mark for the first time in this year, since inception of SAIL. Verma asked SAIL to take up all modernization work on priority and complete them at the earliest and also for improving its efficiency to improve profitability. The Steel Minister noted that in Q3 of FY13, SAIL has recorded sales growth of 5.1% and production growth of 1.8% in saleable steel as against corresponding period last year (CPLY). SAIL had also registered improvement in techno-economic parameters. However, the Minister expressed his concern over the decrease in profit of the company and asked SAIL Management to take necessary steps to improve the same. Acknowledging successful efforts in the R & D area, Verma appreciated SAIL Bhilai Steel Plant for supplying tailor-made special soft iron magnetic plates for the prestigious India-based Neutrino Observatory project of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. He also encouraged SAIL's plants in Bokaro and Salem for starting production of IS 2062 E450 and E 350 HR Coils, for the Indian Railways by Bokaro and Salem plants of SAIL. For SAIL's modernization and expansion projects, Verma noted the significant progress made by SAIL Rourkela and IISCO Steel Plants. At IISCO Steel Plant, the new 7-metre tall Coke Oven Battery with latest CDCP technology has commenced production. The dispatches from the new Sinter Plant at ISP have already begun. New 0.5 MTPA high-speed Wire Rod Mill of ISP is ready to commence operations. At Rourkela Steel Plant, the new Sinter Plant 3 has commenced production; the new Coke oven Battery and 4060 m3 Blast furnace at this plant are also ready to commence production in the near future.

HMT Machine Tools Ltd competing Global competition in Technology (UPDATED)
Hindustan Machine Tools Ltd (HMT MTL), the pioneer in the machine tool industry and a prime nerve of all Indian industries has indigenously designed and developed for the first time in India a "Vertical Turning and Machining Centre (VTMC 500B 5A)", a complete machining solution with 5 axis simultaneous machining capability and bagged the prestigious FIE award in the IMTEX-2013,recently concluded at Bangalore (India). It is after a gap of almost 10 years that HMT Machine Tools receives an award which exemplars HMT MTL's strengths even today in building Technological Solutions. HMT MTL also exhibited the largest Slant Bed Turn Mill Centre indigenously designed and developed for the first time in India, model SBCNC 80 - C- axis. This machine is offered with swing up to 1000 mm and admit between centres up to 3000 mm. First of this kind was exclusively designed and developed for VSSC Trivandrum just 2 months back. The other CNC Turning centres exhibited were "High Speed Slant Bed CNC Turning centre (STC 30 C)" and a "CNC Precision Turning Centre (VAJRA 500)" suitable for any Training/Institutions/Labs, Small/Medium scale industries where return on Investment (ROI) is a prime consideration. "CNC Double Disc Grinder (CNC GDS 22 - 2A)" a most required machine with total automation in loading and unloading of components which is today's very much required in Auto and Auto Ancillary industries and lastly was also exhibited. All these machines automated machines are essential for any type of industries where manpower is very precious / critical in today's environment and for "Exponentially growing India globally "with the consistent growth and demand in manpower/investments in all sectors. A number of dignitaries visited HMT Stall and appreciated the capability of HMT as exhibited in the IMTEX. Addressing the press here, M D Sreekumar, the Managing Director of HMT Machine Tools Ltd said "The technology Up-gradation / Product Development in Machine Tools is getting structured to meet the present and future demands for the user industries and various Research Organisations in India. Modern trends in manufacturing are combinations of technology which is commonly known as 'Multi Tasking'. The term multi-tasking is the mantra of the day in manufacturing. HMT is in the process of indigenously designing and developing a CNC Mill Turn Centre based on the various industries' requirements which are projected by our Indian Society of Scientists and others. HMT Machine Tools is the only Public Sector Undertaking which addresses the machine tools requirements of countries' strategic sectors. As a part of HMT's plan to resurge itself as the leader in Machine Tool Industry, HMT is emphasizing on Research and Development (R & D) for development of latest technological products to compete global completion in addition to Indian counter parts. Towards celebrations of HMT's 60th year of operations, HMT MTL continues to provide the complete manufacturing solutions keeping our motto "Technology for excellence". HMT MTL will continue to work hard holding the flag of 'Customer's Ultimate Delight" Sreekumar added " The company is now finalising its next 5 year Corporate Plan and we are confident that HMT Machine Tools can be turned around during the next financial year 2013-14 itself".

CORPORATE

ONGC creates world record on drilling deepest water depth well
ONGC's chartered-hired ultra deep water drillship DDKG1 has set a world record for drilling well in deepest water depth by an offshore drilling rig. ONGC CMD Chairman Sudhir Vasudeva informed that the rig DDKG1 has spudded well NA7-1 in exploratory block KG-DWN-2004/1 in east coast India at a water depth of 3165m (10,385 feet) on Jan 23, 2013. Thereafter it successfully lowered and latched subsea BOP and riser on wellhead on Feb 09, 2013 to drill further to TD 5625m. The rig owned by M/s Transocean surpassed Transocean's own prior record of 10,194 feet of water depth, set in 2011 by DDKG2 working for Reliance Industries Ltd., India in east coast.

Kasliwal re-appointed CMD Brandhouse Retails Ltd
Brandhouse Retails Ltd has re-appointed Nitin S Kasliwal as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company for a further period of five years.

Sukhadia appointed CFP, Paramount Printpackaging Ltd
Vanraj Sukhadia has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Paramount Printpackaging Ltd.

Mishra quits as Director, Raghunath Tobacco Company Ltd
Vijay Mishra has resigned as Director of Raghunath Tobacco Company Ltd due to personal reasons.

Jain appointed Addl. Director, Raghunath Tobacco Company Ltd
Priyank Jain has been appointed as an Additional Director of Raghunath Tobacco Company Ltd .

Wadhwan ceases to be Independent Director, Tata Metaliks Ltd
A C Wadhawan has ceased to be an Independent Director of Tata Metaliks Ltd on attaining the age of retirement.

Two additional Directors appointed on Board of Unimers India Ltd
R P Ganti and M Ghosh have been appointed as additional Directors of Unimers India Ltd.

Rath ceases to be Independent Director, MRPL
Dr A K Rath has ceased to be Independent Director on the Board of Directors of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).

Agarwala resigns as Director, Coastal Roadways Ltd
Ravi Agarwalla has resigned as Director of Coastal Roadways Ltd with immediate effect.

Jalan re-appointed Whole-time Director, Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd
Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd has re-appointed Din Dayal Jalan as Whole-time Director of the company.

Trivedi resigns as Company Secy., SRG Housing Finance Ltd
Ms Tanushree Trivedi has resigned as Company Secretary of SRG Housing Finance Ltd

Gupta designated as Director (Technical), Urja Global Ltd
Urja Global Ltd has designated Vishnu Gupta as Director (Technical) of the company.

Chugh appointed as Director of Yantra Natural Resources
Om Prakash Chugh has been appointed as Director of Yantra Natural Resources.

Doraiswamy resigns as Director of Mphasis
Balu Doraiswamy has resigned as Director of Mphasis

(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 is well known that paying commissions in defence sales is acceptable in many countries, but in India receiving commissions or kick backs are illegal. There are several such brokers roaming around Delhi with the patronage of the Government and party super powers, to cajole foreign suppliers to pay kick backs. It is seen that in all detected cases, the kick back taker escapes (or helped to escape) while the supplier sometimes the best in the world are black listed. We have seen how Quottrochi was helped to escape with his looted millions, at the same time Bofors got black listed. This made the clock back to two decades in our gun and ammunition procurement affecting our defence preparedness badly. We have black listed many well known suppliers already. Our Defence Minister is following the same policy. We should find some way to overcome this. The much acclaimed integrity clause, instead should include that if any kick back is detected, double the amount will be debited to the supplier instead of blacklisting. As far as the Indian Agents, their crime should be categorized as war against the nation and proceeded with. If the present policy continues, Antony who is incompetent and without any clue about our defence, in order to safe guard his clean image will go on blacklisting all reputed companies on even trivial reasons and there will not be any reputed international suppliers left for our defence requirements.

N Krishnan

Steno and Interpreters are Ambassadors now

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has recently appointed two Ambassadors - one is steno and the other is interpreter. I must say that Ambassadors can be appointed only IFS(A) and IFS(B) officers in addition to political appointments. Neither this steno and interpreter is IFS(A)/IFS(B) nor political figure. This will certainly harm the friendly relations with the host countries where these steno-turned-ambassadors are working. Steno's work is to provide secretarial assistance to IFS(A) and IFS(B) officers. MEA has not even updated Rules governing recruitment of PPS, Sr.PPS and PSOs in its website thereby giving rise to steno-turned-ambassadors. Is it not dereliction of duty? In a poor country like India tax-payers money is wasted in this fashion.

Chander Singh

Regional offices of TERM required

There should be regional offices of TERM (Telecom Enforcement Resources & monitoring) cell with sufficient Telecom officers or TRAI offices. The Telecom sector has grown enormously and to prevent revenue leakage, resolving public grievances and monitoring quality of services it is must to have regional offices. But it seems concerned ministry is so much engaged in cleaning the spots of spectrum scam that it has no time to take care of these issues of National and Public interests. Even the core cadre of the Telecom ministry i.e. ITS is busy in saving itself from being declared surplus because only babus are required to run this country in the style of British.

AKS

Our judicial system needs overhaul

To an ordinary person not conversant with legalities system under which it takes decades to punish the guilty and acquit the not guilty is not a system much less a robust one. But, yes, our judicial system does need overhaul not ad-hoc and panic driven like the one contemplated after the recent rape case, but well thought and conceived even if it takes some time. Emotions cannot be done away with anything which human beings think, deal with and decide. Only machines do not have emotions.

Bishan Sharma