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POLITICS

This is History (162)

Indeed, even today there are many relics of feudalism in India and in some parts of Europe.

Who has more property than Asaram Bapu ?

Among various saints spread all over the country, who has more property than Asaram Bapu as on date ? No prizes for guessing.

No officer from PMO in evening parties in Delhi

These days officers, mainly those from the PMO are not seen participating in evening parties in Delhi. Guess the reason ? .

Ek Baba ki shaadhi ki aasha...

I live in a Cosmopolitan Apartment complex comprising of 300+ Flats..we have a very strong RWA ...and yours truly is the Honorary Secretary...some very important documents need signature of our VP....but he's overseas. ..somewhere in Far East ....I go to his apartment ...

His Mother: Hullo wish you a velly velly Happy New Yeal...oh oh ...so solly... I've just come back from a lovely trip to Shimla ..my friend who is also from China ...married to a Sindhi like me ...we had a whale of a time ...spoke only in Mandrain for a week .... gossiped ...cooked and ate Chinese Street food...being with your own in a Foreign Country is a pleasure ... ( seeing my questioning look) okay I am now a India citizen...but Motherland is Motherland ..

Me: Happy New Year ...where is Jugs (full name Jugnu Gidwani) ...when is he coming back..he has to sign some very important Society papers..

HM: Jugs is still overseas ... send him a email..

M: Tried it ....no reply... any contact number ....

HM: No ..no ..no...no...I don't know ...he calls on the land line ..so I do not know which number he is calling from....okay when he calls I will tell him....tell me can the Society Lawns be used for a Marriage Party ...

M: Wow is Jugs getting married...has he gone overseas to meet his would be wife!

HM: Nothing in the works. ..but I am hopeful ..keep myself prepared..

M: Yes it's high time you got him hooked... he seems to be at a loose end...the other day he went to Mr Daruwallah 's home as he came to know that Mr. Daruwallah's servant had stubbed his toe ...he spent 6 hours there ...offered no advice or help just sat there...had lunch and tea ....did the same when Mrs. Pinto's tea set broke... the list is long...residents now get in a panic if they see him at their door.. and to answer your question...yes a resident can...some strict conditions..I'll send you the details...

HM: My Jugs has a heart of 24 Carat Gold...

M: Okay Ma'am please give him my message ..bye ..

HM: Wait ... please sit for some more time ...I insist .... (calls out to the Servant to serve Coffees)..

M: What's the delay in his marriage ...

HM: My Diamond ....first it was ...let me get some post in Dad's Company ... you know his late Dad ..my Giddu...was the CEO of a Multinational Company... he was also the Chairman of this RWA ....then he joined his Dad's Company ...then it was let me rise in the Company ...now its let me become Chairman of the RWA...real achiever ...

M: Achiever or he doesn't want to get married ...

HM: No no don't say that ...he's my Topaz .... I had such a good time in Shimla ...it was like going back to China in a way ... you know immediately after my marriage to Giddu we befriended a Chinese Couple ...the husband was a Businessman ...what fun we had ... I did not miss China for a day ...we partied ..celebrated together ...

M: Where are they now ...

HM: The husband got into business deals with my husband's Company .... some serious problems crept up and the couple had to literally run away from India ... my Giddu came under a cloud ...lost respect in the Company ..some people gave a twist ...that I was a plant ...got married to my dear Giddu on the behest of our Chinese friends ...arre Chinese and Italians have a nose for business ..Chinese friend just grabbed an opportunity .....

M: Ma'am thank you for the Coffee ...and hope Jugs gets married this year..

HM: My Jewel ...yes from your lips to God's ears ..

M: Bye Madam ...

I step out and the Treasurer meets me ..

T: No luck I'm sure ..I got an extension ..so we can wait from Jugs to return. .. I met his Mom yesterday ..

M: Yaar his Mom is in .....get Jugs hooked mode...

T: She calls him Diamond ...Precious Stone ...Gold ... Jewel ...someone should advice her..please get a daughter in law who has no idea about Diamonds,Gold, Precious Stones and Jewels ...

VJS

BUREAUCRACY

Amitabh Kant appointed as CEO, NITI Aayog
Secretary IPP Amitabh Kant has been appointed as CEO, NITI Aayog after his superannuation on February 29. He is a 1980 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre. Guessing game had started when he was given additional charge of CEO NITI Aayog.

D K Sikri is new Chairman of CCI
Former Secretary Justice D K Sikri has been appointed new Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). He is former 1975 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre. At one stage his name was under consideration for the post of Chief Election Commissioner.

Sikri was number two in the panel !
Appointment of Amitabh Kant as CEO of NITI Aayog has led to the appointment of D K Sikri as Chairman of the Competition Commission of India.Infact, the Search-cum-Selection Committee had put the name of Amitabh Kant number one in the panel and Sikri number two followed by Harsh Vardhan Singh.

Sailesh appointed as Census Commissioner of India
Additional Secretary Home Sailesh has been appointed as Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India in the rank of Additional Secretary level. He is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Siraj Hussain is also Secretary, Food Processing
Siraj Hussain has been assigned an additional charge of Secretary, Food Processing Industries during the absence on leave of present incumbent. He is a 1979 batch IAS officer of UP cadre.

MOIA merged with MEA
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has been merged with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as a proposal in this regard has been submitted with the Prime Minister Office (PMO).

Will Yadav join ED ?
Name of S S Yadav is doing the round for the post of Addl Director in ED. He is a 1997 batch UT cadre IPS officer and presently posted as Addl. CP, ACB, Delhi govt.

Dhaliwal likely to move from BACS
H G S Dhaliwal, Additional Commissioner Security, BACS, likely to move from BACS. He is likely to go to ED as Addil. Director.

Cadre transfer proposal of Bhaskar Reddy not acceded
The Government of Assam has not considered the proposal of P Vijay Bhaskar Reddy seeking cadre transfer on PH policy. He is a 2015 batch IAS officer of A-M cadre.

Resignation of Amarender Reddy, IRS-IT officer not acceded
The resignation tendered by V Amarender Reddy, JCIT, International Taxation-1 (3), Mumbai has not been acceded by the Government of India. He is an IRS-IT officer.

Ms Nidhi Gupta seeking inter cadre transfer
Ms Nidhi Gupta is seeking an inter cadre transfer from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh on the ground of marriage to Anurag Vats, an IPS officer of 2013. The Government of India decided to go ahead only after receiving comments from both the States. Ms Gupta is a 2015 batch IAS officer.

Pavan Kapoor is new Ambassador to Israel
Pavan Kapoor (lFS: 1990), presently High Commissioner of lndia in Maputo, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of lndia to lsrael.

Dina Bandhu Mohapatra to be ED, Canara Bank ?
Dina Bandhu Mohapatra is is likely to be promoted as Executive Director, Canara Bank?

Foreign travel days of CSS officers minimized to five days
The Government of India is reported to have advised its officers working under Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) to minimize foreign travel days. The foreign visits should not exceed five working days as per new rules.

Orders of Sudhakar T N for Director (Fin), GSL issued
The orders of Sudhakar T N, GM, CSL, for the appointment as Director (Finance), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) have reportedly been issued by the Government of India.
(We said this on Sept 8, 2015)

Ashwani Sondhi joins as Director (Mkt), MMTC Ltd
Ashwani Sondhi, CGM, MMTC, has taken over the charge as Director (Marketing), MMTC Limited. Sondhi is a techno-commercial professional with engineering and post graduate qualification in economics and international business. He has over 30 years of experience in international trade in MMTC's core business areas, encompassing export and import, international trade negotiations, infrastructure development and business strategy. He has also exposure in working overseas, having worked for MMTC in Tokyo, Japan for over five years. He has presented technical papers in various international and national forums and is widely traveled.
(We said this on Aug 14, 2015)

Ratish Kumar joins as Director (Project), NHPC
Ratish Kumar, ED, NHPC, has taken over the charge as Director (Project), National Hydero-Electric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC).
(We said this on Aug 26, 2015)

Khare likely to join as CMD, MFL on Monday
A B Khare, Chief General Manager, RCF, is expected to take over the charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Madras Fertilizers Limited (MFL) on January 11, 2016.
(We said this on Aug 24, 2015)

Santosh Sharma yet to get orders for Director (Ope), HCL
The orders of Santosh Sharma, GM, HCL, for the appointment as Director (Operations), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) are yet to be issued by the Government of India.

Vacancy of Director (Power), BHEL arises
A vacancy of Director (Power), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has arisen with the incumbent Atul Sobti joining as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the same on January 1, 2016. Meanwhile, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has sought applications from the willing candidates before February 22, 2016.

Dr Savita is Director of FRI Dehradun
Dr Savita has been appointed as the full-time Director of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. She is 1985 batch IFS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre.

15 Nagaland IPS officers on deputation
According to information at present 15 IPS officers of Nagaland cadre are on deputation at various organisations. They are Messrs - A Sunil Acharya, 1991, IB, Bidhu Shekhar, 1999,IB, Janardan Singh, 1997, IB, S. R. Sarvanan, 2000,CBI, Sandeep M. Tamgadge 2001, CBI, Ramakant Gupta, 2003,IB, Sonia Singh, 2003, UP state, Jasbir Singh, 2003,CBI, Roopa M., 2006,CBI, Sanmeet Kaur, 2007, Punjab Police, Rajshekhar N. 2007, CBI, Konjok Tashi Khampa, 2008,Cab.Sect, K Vikram Mukundrao, 2008,NIA, D. R. Masirkar , 2008, Maharashtra state and Vikas, 2009, CBI.

Women representation increased in CAPF
To enhance representation of women in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Union Home Ministry has approved the 33% posts for women only. The 33% reservation of Constable level posts in CRPF & CISF and 14-15% posts at Constable level in border guarding forces i.e. BSF, SSB & ITBP will start immediately to begin with. This reservation would be horizontal.

Rajesh Swami gets posting to Nairobi
Rajesh Swami has been appointed to Nairobi in the rank of DHC. He is an Indian Foreign Service officer.

Post of CVO in NHAI to be filled
Post of CVO in the NHAI is presently lying vacant.1984 batch IPS officer of UP cadre Alok Prasad who was CVO is now back to the cadre.

Minor reshuffle of IAS officers in Haryana
Five IAS officers have been shifted in Haryana. Accordingly, Sandeep Garg has been posted as Secretary, Finance Department while Saket Kumar will be Director, Ayush and Vivek Atray gets additional charge as Director, Renewable Energy. Besides, Rajnarayan Kaushik has been posted as Additional Secretary, Home-II Department and Dhirendra Khadgata was given additional charge as Secretary, Board of School Education, Bhiwani.

Minor reshuffle of IPS officers in Tamil Nadu (UPDATED)
Some IPS officers have been transferred and posted at different places in Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, S N Seshasai has been appointed as new Additional Commissioner of Police (North), Chennai Police while MN Manjunatha will now be Commissioner of Police, Tirupur and K Shankar is Additional Commissioner of Police (South), Chennai Police. Similarly, Davidson Devasirvatham has been posted as the IGP Welfare; HM Jayaram as Additional Commissioner of Police Traffic, Chennai Police; P Thamaraikannan as IGP North Zone; Sandeep Rai Rathore as IGP, Coastal Security Group, Chennai and N K Senthamarai Kannan was posted as IGP Central Zone.

2 persons of Bihar awarded IAS cadre (UPDATED)
Two persons of non-State Civil Service of Bihar: Sanjay Kumar Singh and Satish Kumar Singh have been awarded Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre.

Orders of Kaushik Rakshit for Director (Fin), HIL issued (UPDATED)
The orders of Kaushik Rakshit, GM, NSC, for the appointment as Director (Finance), Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL) have reportedly been issued by the Government of India.
(We said this on Aug 7, 2015)

Anand Kumar to look after as CVO, IOCL till Jan 29 (UPDATED)
An additional charge of Chief Vigilance Commission (CVO), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to Anand Kumar, CVO, OIL, NOIDA, has been extended upto January 29, 2016.

Induction training of IRS-IT officers to begin on Jan 11 (UPDATED)

The Inauguration Ceremony of the Induction Training of the direct recruit IRS officers of the 69th batch of IRS-IT will be held on January 11, 2016 at 01.15 PM at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur. Arun Kurnar Jain, Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, New Delhi will be the chief guest on the occasion.

CBI arrests Addl GM, BSNL for demanding bribe (UPDATED)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Additional General Manager Telecom Project, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Jaipur (Rajasthan) for demanding and accepting an alleged bribe of Rs.50,000/- from the complainant. The officer belongs to Indian Telecom Service of 1992 batch.

Dr Shreeranjan repatriated to his parent cadre (UPDATED)
Dr Shreeranjan, Deputy Director General, UIDAI at Additional Secretary level, has been repatriated to his parent cadre. He is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Central Establishment Board reconstituted (UPDATED)
Central Establishment Board (CEB) has been reconstituted for the year 2016. Secretary Personnel will be Chairman (Ex-officio) while Secretaries Economic Affairs (ex-officio), Petroleum and Shipping are Members and Establishment Officer is Member Secretary (ex-officio).

Devendra Singhai joins as Member in Delhi (UPDATED)
Devendra Singhai has joined as Member (Administration) Adjucating Authority in Delhi. He is former 1978 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.

No suitable candidate found for CMD, MECON Ltd (UPDATED)
The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) did not find a suitable candidate for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, MECON Limited despite interviews of five persons. The Board has now decided to see more candidates for the same.

Shambhu S Kumaran appointed as Joint Secretary, Defence (UPDATED)
Shambhu S Kumaran has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence for a period of three years after he was empanelled for holding this level post. He is a 1995 batch IFS officer.

DEBATE
Is PM Narendra Modi losing his charm ?. Is he a changed man ? Any suggestions ?
Mail your views to:- mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com or Suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com

CORPORATE

Ms Mishra appointed Govt Nominee Director of Indian Bank
The Central Government has appointed Ms Mudita Mishra, Director, Department of Financial Services, as Government Nominee Director on the Board of Directors of Indian Bank

Sangar resigns as MD of TFCIL
S K Sangar has resigned as Managing Director of Tourism Finance Corporation of India Limited w.e.f. January 31, 2016

Swahney appointed Govt. Director of ONGC
Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has appointed A P Sawhney, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, as Government Director on the Board of Directors of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Modi appointed Addl. Director of Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd.
Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Limited has appointed Vipulkumar Shirishkumar Modi as an Additional Director of the company.

Thapar appointed Senior VP (Finance) of Micromax
Micromax has appointed Vikas Thapar as Senior Vice President ( Finance) of the company.

Srivastava appointed Independent Director of Jenson & Nicholson (India) Ltd
Jenson & Nicholson (India) Ltd has appointed Ajay Kumar Srivastava as Independent Director of the company.

Amrein appointed Addl. Director of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd
Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited has appointed Stefan Georg Amrein as an Additional Director of the company.

Prusty resigns as CS of AMD Industries Limited
Prakash Chandra Prusty has resigned as Company Secretary of AMD Industries Limited

Shorawala ceases to be Part-time Non-official Director of Central Bank of India
M P Shorawala has ceased to be Part-time Non-official Director of Central Bank of India

Bhattacharya resigns as Independent Director of TFCI
A S Bhattacharya has resigned as Independent Director of Tourism Finance Corporation of India Ltd

Mahapatra appointed MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance
Pushan Mahapatra has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of SBI General Insurance

(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)

DEBATE (1)

Governing Gujarat and Governing India are two different ball games Modiji.

Ramesh Khanna (Virginia) US

Debate (2)

This is wrong-Modi is not losing charm. This is all being propagated by anti-Modi lobby in the party and the RSS.

P Desai


How has the judiciary grown in stature over the last three decades?

This is an important question, because it has ramifications for governance in India, not least for the balance of power between various institutions.

About thirty odd years back, High Court judgeship was a big thing, but not bigger than being in the IAS. IAS officers had the same respect and were held in high esteem in society.

The political executive in the early 70's realised that they needed a bureaucracy "committed" to them. This would not be possible till they had independent power vested in them, by law. In 1973, Indira Gandhi's government amended the Criminal Procedure Code, in a bid to demoralise the IAS and the executive magistracy which had till then been in charge of maintenance of law and order (this was done under the cloak of separation of the executive and the judiciary, which had been included as a Directive Principle of State Policy in the Constitution, the reason for which was that the founding fathers realised that it would be foolish to effect it, just like uniform civil code, etc., which by the way, has never been implemented). This they did, by separating the executive and the judiciary (in effect, the power of cognisance was henceforth available to judicial magistrates and was no longer with the executive magistracy).

For a few years, the judiciary did not realize what had been thrust upon them (some are born great, some acquire greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them).

In fact, barring a few honourable exceptions, even the Supreme Court was pusillanimity itself when faced with the emergency. Indiraji had assessed well, the IAS and the executive magistracy had responsibility but no power any more, and was thoroughly demoralised; the judiciary had got power but had no responsibility for law and order. Under the cloak of separation of powers, responsibility and power had actually been divorced.

The IAS and the executive magistracy was vanquished. Till the IAS and the executive magistracy had the power of cognisance, they were also powerful and law and order could be maintained in the country. When they were stripped of the power, the politicians and the political-criminal nexus had a field day, law and order was no longer under control. This was so because, cloaked in power vested by law, the IAS and the executive magistracy could not be threatened, suborned or cajoled, they could stand their ground and could effectively maintain law and order in the field. Sitting in their ivory tower court rooms, dispensing justice post events, without any field duties, the judiciary had little use for the power of cognisance as a law enforcement tool and the power of cognisance lost its effectiveness as a tool for maintaining law and order (which is what Indiraji wanted). In the hands of the practitioner of maintenance of law and order, viz. the executive magistracy, it had been a potent tool to further the rule of law. In the hands of the judicial magistracy, it became a mere appendage in the due process of law, oft open to misuse in the lower courts.

But after around fifteen years, power re-asserted itself. The judiciary realized that power had been thrust upon them. They started asserting themselves. By now, the Civil Service had all but succumbed to the political executive (powerless, they were barely surviving, some joined hands with the political executive, most lived out their days talking of the chimerical "development" that their role was to foster). The political executive was given to its crass pursuit of power and pelf. Quite often, this resulted in criminal cases against them. The old power of cognisance, now with the judicial magistracy, slowly imbued the judiciary with extra trappings of power. In the vacuum created in the governance structure of the country due to the criminalization of politics, the judiciary's assertiveness came as a whiff of fresh air. There was now, a last recourse. The judiciary was also careful to redeem itself of its record during the emergency. A myth of of "Constitutional functionaries" was created and a whole institution grew in stature (the fact is that the Services are as Constitutional as any other institution). Of course, the moot point is, what happens to the concept of separation of powers when the judiciary steps into the realm of executive policy? After all, what gives power to the judiciary is the concept of separation of powers. That is what stripped the IAS and the executive magistracy of its powers. The truth is, behind all the words, was the simple idea of the political executive of the 70's, to finish off the IAS and the executive magistracy. RIP.

A K Singh


CSS comments beyond reality

CSS comments on different rules for Assistants and others seems to be beyond the reality. Complete promotions of CSS are being carried out on the basis of adhoc due to different court cases filed by them and they are being benefitted by under the garb of court cases. This dispensation has been made for years and still continuing. For other services the promotions are being done on regular basis and once a year whereas they are getting promotions every month. Secretary & the Joint Secretary, DOPT are the same for both services but undue benefit is being given to CSS because they are habitual in going to courts and DoPT is encouraging them by granting them promotions every month by bending backwards. This step motherly treatment should stop immediately. When Sarin was Secretary, DoPT, he never came under pressure and never allowed this favour to be granted to CSS. Since CSS are the file managers they can mould the mind of officers to their favour and it is evident in promotions. Due to these double standards people are retiring without getting their due in promotions. DPC for promotion to DS is done in DOPT whereas for Sr. PPS it is being sent to UPSC making it a time consuming affair thus denying the due. Nomenclature for CSS has been changed but for CSSS they need God to come down. Cadre restructuring for CSS is done in a time bound manner but for CSSS it has been dragging on whimsical grounds and the reason is next cadre restructuring will be due only after present one is completed, thus delaying the promotions due to CSSS. This shows the mindset. We don't want any favours but rules and yardstick should be same for a set of persons if it is not being done intentionally.

Ravinder

Few musts for any govt.

There are some things any government has to do. Defence, internal security and law and order, are any day top most. Then comes a set of priorities:

The first is affordable, quality healthcare for all. The second is affordable housing. The third is free and quality, basic education and opportunity of affordable, quality, higher education. The fourth is good quality infrastructure. The fifth is opportunities of employment.

These are not isolated strands of governance, there are linkages between them.

Unfortunately, political parties are not thinking much about these basic issues.
They have become disciples of the Nazi propagandist Goebbels and his dictum- repeat a lie a hundred times and it starts acquiring the contours of truth in the eyes of the foolish. But that is not the way to go. With the talent that our politicians have (they are all extremely talented, as one may observe in their media statements, interviews, interactions, debates, appearances, rallies etc), they could have altered the face of India. Unfortunately, they have stuck to politics and narrow, selfish ends and have steadfastly refused to become statesmen. But maybe that is in our genes. Had that not been so, this country would not have been ruled by foreigners for a thousand years.

Vijay Kumar

DATE WITH RTI

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