Reminder to 'babus' for their elders

Pay retired babus’ dues on time: DoPT notice

Erring Officials Will Have Their Salaries Docked

Vishwa Mohan |TNN 

New Delhi: Acting on recommendation of a parliamentary committee, the government has directed all ministries and departments to strictly adhere to the timeline for disbursing post-retirement benefits to retired public servants and to take action against those who cause ‘delay’.

 
    Penalty against erring officials would include recovery of ‘penal interest’ from their salaries. 

    Under the existing rules, pension of a retiring public servant has to be authorized on his/her last working day,while provident fund claims have to be settled within 30 days, 

    Though the specific rules for disbursement of PF, gratuity and pension have been in the statute book for long, they are not very often adhered to, leading the ministry of personnel to send a ‘reminder’ to all the central ministries. 

    Referring to the rules, the ministry reminded all other ministries of the provision which makes labour commissioners and dealing officials or head of office liable for delay in disbursing PF and gratuity, respectively, to retired public servants. 

    The parliamentary panel – standing committee on home affairs – in one of its reports had noted that the ‘delay’ not only causes distress to retired babus, but puts additional burden on the exchequer in the form of huge interest that courts and Central Administrative Tribunal impose for delay in disbursal of superannuation benefits. 

    Taking note of the committee’s observation, the ministry of personnel has through its office memorandum (OM) advised all departments to either pay all the post-retirement dues to public servants without any delay or sanction “provisional pension” wherever delays are anticipated.

 
    “Thus, in case where regular pension is not authorized at the time of retirement, provisional pension should invariably be sanctioned,” said the ministry’s memorandum on May 1. 

    In case of gratuity, it said: “Once it has been decided to pay the gratuity, the amount should be paid immediately pending a decision regarding payment of interest. This would reduce the interest liability, if any, on payment of delayed gratuity.” 

    Reminding the labour ministry’s rules for PF, the ministry of personnel made it clear that “in case the commissioner fails without sufficient cause to settle claim complete in all respects within 30 days, he or she will be liable for the delay beyond the said period and penal interest at the rate of 12% per annum may be charged on the benefit amount and the same may be deducted from the salary of the commissioner”.......http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzIwI0FyMDE4MDE=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Bribery in private sector ...... law is inevitable under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) mandate

Enlist foreign trip, gift, concession as instruments of bribe: TN, Kerala to home ministry

http://t.co/6wEkysrT

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 18, 2012, 01.35PM IST

NEW DELHI: With the Centre fine-tuning its draft amendment legislation to make bribery in private sector a criminal offence, two southern states - Tamil Nadu and Kerala -- have suggested home ministry to make it more stringent.

Both the states also pitched for widening the definition of "undue advantage" by including foreign trips and fraudulently collection of money by way of shares, debentures or bonds as instruments of 'bribes' in the proposed law.

Responding to the draft legislation which was circulated among states for their opinion, Tamil Nadu suggested that the proposed section 160A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has to be amplified with various commercial activities of the private sectors. The state enlisted foreign trip, gift in any form, concession, reduction in rate, selling sub-standard material in a priced rate of labelling as instruments of 'bribe' if it relates to any undue advantage.

The state also suggested that there should be separate provision to prosecute the companies and for cancellation/suspension of their licenses/registration.

Similarly, Kerala suggested that "the activities of persons coming under the purview of 'private sector' who dishonestly or fraudulently collects money by way of shares, debentures, bonds or in whatever form, from the public and misappropriating the same for themselves like money laundering or money chain be brought within the purview" of the proposed legislation as a separate offence prescribing stringent punishment.

Objecting to the proposed punishment clause which prescribes for a term which may extend to either seven years of imprisonment or fine, the state wrote: "Such a provision may help the offender to escape with fine alone". It, therefore, suggested that the punishment for the offence should be imprisonment which may be extended to seven years with fine.

Both Tamil Nadu and Kerala along with 19 other states have, however, broadly agreed with the proposed amendment in the IPC to make bribery in private sector a criminal offence. Himachal Pradesh is the only state which expressed it "disagreement" with such legislation.

Though six states including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have not yet sent their 'formal' response, officials in the home ministry said these states did not seem to have any objection at this juncture.

Agreeing to the proposed amendment to IPC, Gujarat, on its part, suggested that necessary amendment should also be made in the Prevention of Corruption Act (which deals with bribery in public sector or government organisations) so that Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of states can register case of corruption in private sector.

A home ministry official said: "Most of these suggestions of the states will be suitably incorporated in the draft legislation before sending it to the Cabinet for approval". He, however, remained non-committal on any time-frame to bring the proposed legislation in the Parliament.

Stating the proposed amendment a "step forward in enlarging the ambit of the Penal Code to cover private sector", Jammu and Kashmir in its response said that the government was considering amendment on similar lines in the Ranbir Penal Code applicable in the state.

All seven Union Territories have also agreed with the proposed legislation. 

Indo-China ....... confrontation may only step up arms race

China violated Line of Actual Control 500 times in last two years

Rajat Pandit & Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 17, 2012, 01.12AM IST

NEW DELHI: Needling India all along the unresolved 4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese troops have crossed over into Indian territory over 500 times since January, 2010.

But much more than the sheer number of these "transgressions" - the government refuses to call them "intrusions" - it's the increasingly aggressive behaviour of the 2.5-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the LAC that remains a major worry.

Many experts feel China, after building massive military infrastructure in Tibet Autonomous Region with five airbases, an extensive rail network and over 58,000-km of roads, is now resorting to "a slow but steady cartographic aggression" to keep India under pressure.

The government, as always, played down the issue by holding the transgressions took place due to "differing perceptions" about where the LAC actually lies. "Our security forces also continue to patrol all areas that fall within the Indian perception of the LAC," said defence minister A K Antony in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Union minister of state for home Mullappally Ramachandran, however, did admit the number of transgressions by PLA troops stood at 228 in 2010, 213 in 2011 and 64 till April. Similar figures, if not more, have been recorded in earlier years.

The number of Chinese transgressions, as Antony said, have "generally been as per established pattern" during the last five years.

But that does not detract from the fact that the PLA has been flexing its muscles through an aggressive border management policy to stake claim to disputed areas in all the three sectors - western (Ladakh), middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh) and eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh).

Chinese troops, for instance, damaged a 200-feet long stonewall in Yangtse area of Tawang in Arunachal last year, which was subsequently re-built by India after lodging a strong protest with Beijing.

Armed motorized as well as boat patrols by PLA in the strategically-located Trig Heights and Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh have also intensified since 2009. Similarly, Chinese has stepped up claims along the 206-km border between Tibet and Sikkim, which India long considered was "a settled matter", with the so-called 2.1 sq km "finger area" in the northernmost tip of the state remaining a specific matter of concern. 

New Delhi hopes the new bilateral boundary coordination mechanism, which became operational two months ago after being inked during the 15th round of border talks between national security advisor Shivshankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo in January, will help prevent border flare-ups between the two armies.

India also takes up "specific incidents" of transgressions by PLA through hotlines, flag meetings, border personnel meeting (BPM) and diplomatic channels. During the 4th India-China annual defence dialogue last December, India also told China that military patrols along the LAC should not be undertaken at night, nor should they "surprise each other".

Moreover, laid-down stand-operating procedures to cool down tempers should be followed in the event of face-offs between the two armies. India also suggested the proposed BPM mechanism at Lipulekh in the middle sector should be shifted to the nearby Mana Pass to make it operational, to follow the ones already in place at Nathu La, Bumla, Spanggur and Kibithu-Damai.............................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzE3I0FyMDExMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

MHA vs. MEA ...... turf war for a cause....EU delegation must be amused to know this tussle between South Block and North Block

Home ministry upset with MEA for European envoys’ visit to Nagaland

http://t.co/2KIuJpO0

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 15, 2012, 04.35AM IST

NEW DELHI: The home ministry on Monday strongly objected to the visit of a group of ambassadors from European countries to Nagaland without taking 'security clearance' and asked the ministry of external affairs to explain under what circumstances it took a 'unilateral' decision in permitting the visit.

The home ministry, which gives 'mandatory' security clearance to foreign teams to visit sensitive northeastern states, also raised concern on the delegation meeting members of different political parties, civil society and non-government organizations.

Home secretary R K Singh is learnt to have conveyed the concern to foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai when the latter talked to him on the phone and explained the situation with an assurance that the delegation would stick to its 'itinerary'. Mathai spoke to Singh on Monday evening following the protest lodged by the home ministry during the day.

An eight-member delegation comprising European Union (EU) ambassador to India Joao Cravinho and diplomats/ambassadors of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia is on its three-day visit to Nagaland.

The delegation, which is on a 'familiarization' trip, is expected to explore opportunities of investment in the state as part of ongoing efforts to enhance India-EU cooperation in various fields including trade. During the visit, members of the delegation are supposed to meet only officials, ministers, chief minister and governor. 

Deviating from its 'official' plan, the delegation, however, on Monday met representatives of tribal organizations and civil society and leaders of Naga Hoho among others and is learnt to have discussed with them the ongoing peace process in the northeastern state. This drew objection from the home ministry. 

Officials in the ministry believe such meetings could lead to sharing of information inimical to the country's interests as Nagaland is an insurgency-hit state. Besides, sources said, several vested interests were trying to "internationalize" the vexed Naga issue and they may try to exploit the diplomats' visit to highlight it in Europe.

Under the normal practice, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) informs the home ministry and gets 'security clearance' before giving such permission. "But in this case, the MEA has taken unilateral decision. It was the duty of the external affairs ministry to take us into the loop as and when foreign delegation approaches it for such permission," said a senior home ministry official.

MEA sources, however, said, "In all such visits, necessary process is ensured and coordination is ensured amongst all concerned organizations and ministries."

Not convinced with the MEA's explanation, officials in the home ministry said the MEA should issue a 'note verbale' to the envoys seeking clarifications on their meetings with people other than state government functionaries.

Officials referred to the existing practice of taking prior permission not only by foreigners but also by Indians in three northeastern states - Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram - under 'Inner-line' Permit and 'Restricted Area' Permit schemes.

Anyone visiting Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram is required to take Inner-line Permit while citizens of China, Pakistan and Myanmar have to apply for Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Inner-line Permit is granted by the state government while the RAP is accorded by the state government with due clearance from the home ministry.......................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JUFUvMjAxMi8wNS8xNSNBcjAxMjAw&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

BSF (Amendment) Bill ....... another federal issue on political platter

Congress-ruled Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra oppose BSF Bill changes

http://t.co/Nihy1IpT

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 9, 2012, 03.40AM IST

NEW DELHI: Controversial NCTC is not the only contentious issue, where the government has faced resistance from Congress CMs. The Border Security Force (Amendment) Bill that seeks deployment of the border guarding force in hinterland so that it can exercise its powers of arrest, search and seizure, too, has attracted opposition from certain Congress-ruled states.

While the Congress CMs of Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya had raised objection to NCTC during the meeting on May 5, the other two party-ruled states - Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra - have submitted their written objections to the proposal to amend the BSF Act, 1968.

Though the opposition to both the NCTC and the BSF (Amendment) Bill has primarily revolved around the 'powers' given to these central agencies, states have taken 'different' positions on these matters.

Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya, which raised certain objections to the proposed NCTC in its present form, have concurred with the BSF (Amendment) Bill. Among these three states, Assam had raised objection to the NCTC proposal most aggressively, opposing any unilateral power for central agencies to conduct search, seizure and arrests in state.

Some of the non-Congress-ruled states like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and West Bengal that opposed to NCTC, describing it an anti-federal proposal have supported proposed amendment in the BSF Act.

In response to a Parliament question on the BSF (Amendment) Bill, the home ministry in its written response in Lok Sabha on Tuesday said, "So far, the state governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and NCT of Delhi have concurred with the proposal".

It said, "However, the chief ministers of Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra have raised certain objections to this proposal".

As per the present legal position, BSF can be deployed only along or adjoining the borders of India. However in recent times, BSF has been deployed in the hinterland, especially in Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and the said deployments have been questioned.

Besides, in their current deployment in remote districts, a question has arisen whether they can exercise the now available powers under Section 139 of the BSF Act. Hence, the government had proposed to amend the relevant provisions of the Act to correct the legal position, permitting deployment of this force in other parts of the territory (hinterland) as well.

The major objections raised by the CMs are related to conferring of powers of arrest, search and seizure to BSF, when deployed in hinterland as states believe that such powers may be in conflict with functions of the local police. The states have also argued that such powers given to the BSF would weaken the federal structure as it would violate the 'rights' of states.

Such objections were earlier raised by the CMs during the internal security conference on April 16. Subsequently, home minister P Chidambaram on April 20 had written to them, clarifying that there is no proposal to confer any "additional powers" on BSF.

Chidambaram had explained that such powers are already available in Section 139 of the BSF Act, 1968, when deployed in the local limits of such area adjoining the border...................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzA5I0FyMDE1MDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

NCTC ...... It'll now come back in another form at right 'political' moment . Will it then leave IB only for political espionage?

NCTC is 'virtually dead' in its present form
UPA allies, Congress CM join Mamata in opposing govt

http://t.co/vaXeMF7q

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 6, 2012, 01.02AM IST

New Delhi. NEW DELHI: The controversy-hit National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), conceived as India's primary agency to assess terror threats, is virtually dead in its present form since several chief ministers, including UPA partners and at least one from the Congress, on Saturday objected to the body on the grounds that it will encroach on their powers.

After a meeting of CMs-a last-gasp effort to save the NCTC and called to exclusively discuss the issue-it was clear that the counter-terror mechanism will not pass political muster with states so long as it is equipped with powers to carry out searches, seizures and arrests and remains under the purview of the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Chief ministers from diverse political backgrounds said the NCTC was not acceptable if it was under the IB. Significantly, home minister P Chidambaram indicated that he was not hung up on vesting control of the proposed body in the IB-a statement which, to many, revived memories of a previous bifurcation of the agency in 1969 when the Research & Analysis Wing was set up to take over external intelligence.

The opposition from CMs varied. NCTC was rejected outright by Gujarat's Narendra Modi, West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu's J Jayalaithaa.

Although Odisha's Naveen Patnaik and Bihar's Nitish Kumar nuanced their support by pointing to conditions, the mood of the CMs at the meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spelt an emphatic "no" to the agency in its current form.

Without police powers, the NCTC will lose its essence as conceived by the home ministry under Chidambaram.

Among UPA partners, the focus was on Banerjee. She was the cynosure of media attention and while she spent the day at the meet, she did not join the other CMs for lunch.

Among BJP CMs, Modi launched a direct attack on the anti-terror body, accusing the Centre of drawing in legal finesse to override state police forces.

The 'notification' to set up the NCTC will remain on paper unless the Centre does not find itself on a 'politically' strong wicket or does away with police powers for the body. At present, the possibility of an improved political scenario seems remote in near future.

The government, however, promised to go into concerns of the states although it is evident that a bid to assuage CMs by making changes in operating protocols like including state police officials in a standing council and assuring that the NCTC will use its powers directly only on the rarest of rare occasion did not wash with the CMs.

The alliance of CMs is an expression of a surge in "federal politics" that has got a fillip from the Centre's perceived political weakness and has played out in recent months over issues like the Lokpal Bill's provisions prescribing composition of state-level Lokayuktas. The relatively neutral nature of federal issues has allowed the BJP and regional parties like the BJD, AIADMK and Trinamool to coordinate their moves.

The stance of BJP CMs was carefully discussed by the party ahead of the meeting. Trying to draw support, Chidambaram said he would try and address the sticking points. "We will examine the two issues-why it will be under the IB and why it will carry out operations under exceptional circumstances-and the government will take a final decision," he said. He, however, parried questions on a timeline for a project that has been on hold ever since non-Congress CMs and UPA partners like the Trinamool and DMK said arming a body under the IB with police powers was unacceptable.

Banerjee, who has been opposed to the very concept of NCTC, not only rejected it but also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the 'executive order'. Modi and Jayalalithaa echoed her. Accusing the Centre of behaving like "viceroys of yore", Modi demanded a "rollback" of the notification, saying the NCTC was a conscious strategy to cast the Centre as an "omnipresent" ruler with states portrayed as dependent vassals. 

Though Jayalalithaa too demanded the withdrawal of the order on the setting up of the NCTC, she opened a window for future consultations by suggesting a sub-committee of CMs. Her proposal was readily supported by Patnaik, who agreed to a body to fight terrorism but objected to it being placed within the IB.

The non-Congress CMs' opposition came notwithstanding appeals by the PM and Chidambaram for a broad consensus. Even Congress ally National Conference voiced reservations over the NCTC in its present form, with Omar Abdullah saying its provisions were as stringent as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act he has opposed tooth and nail.

Congress CM Tarun Gogoi of Assam also wanted the Centre to take into confidence the states before undertaking any operations and expressed reservations on proposed provisions of giving the power of arrest and seizure to NCTC.

BJP leader and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh said they would support the NCTC if their suggestions were incorporated and the NCTC is suitably amended.

Asked about the next course of action in the wake of such a strong opposition from CMs, Chidambaram said, "I came to this meeting with an open mind and I leave the meeting with an open mind. We need to examine these suggestions. I firmly believe that we need a counter-terrorism body. Whether it is NCTC or some other body, whether it will have these powers or some other powers or functions is a matter that can be debated, but certainly we need a counter-terrorism body. I have assured them that all their suggestions would be most carefully and anxiously considered."

He said. "The distinction between these two aspects were very clear to every body and I am happy that everyone acknowledged this distinction and maintained this distinction."

The home minister said some Congress CMs pointed to the need for safeguards. "That is a perfectly valid statement. Many of them asked why is it located in the IB and I have told them that initially when the idea was conceived it was not with the IB," he said.

"The final decision to keep it under the IB was taken by the government based upon recommendations of the Group of Ministers of 2001 which said the IB was a nodal organization for counter-terrorism. So, by taking that as a starting point the government decided to located it in IB," he added.


Highlights of the NCTC meeting

* 24 CMs attended the meeting
* UP, Kerala and Nagaland CMs did not attend the meeting; they sent their representatives, including senior ministers
* All non-Congress CMs said that the NCTC "in its present form" upset the nation's federal structure
* Three CMs - Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Narendra Modi (Gujarat) and J Jayalalithaa (Tamil Nadu) - 'out rightly' rejected the NCTC proposal, and demanded immediate withdrawal of the Centre's notification for setting up the counter-terror body
* Jayalalithaa, however, opened a window for considering the matter in future, saying the govt should set up a sub-committee of CMs to look into the issue
* Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik supported Jayalalithaa's suggestion of setting up a sub-committee; he , however, questioned placing NCTC within IB; said body in its present form unacceptable
* Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, too, wanted withdrawal of the notification. He, however, suggested any such body, if created, must be through legislation by Parliament; also questioned placement of NCTC within the IB
* J&K CM Omar Abdullah - another UPA ally - opposed NCTC in its present form, saying it makes it as stringent as the controversial AFSPA
* Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal said, "The NCTC notification is the latest example of Centre's assault on federalism and reminds one of the days of emergency and we cannot accept it." He suggested a second look at the Constitution to bring it in tune with the changing realities and needs
* UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said the SOPs of the proposed NCTC "infringe" upon the rights of state governments; opposed the NCTC in its present form; his speech was tabled by state gram panchayat minister Balram Yadav What did BJP CMs say?
* Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh said, "We have made certain suggestions for amendment in the NCTC. All the three powers - intelligence gathering, operations and full control over the civil services - by NCTC cannot be accepted. If NCTC is suitably amended, we can agree to support it." His suggestions included joint operation and time exchange of information. 
* Jharkhand CM Arjun Munda suggested setting up a sub-committee to look into the issues concerning NCTC
* MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan opposed it in its present form; raised the issue of federalism What did Cong CMs say?
* Assam CM Tarun Gogoi pitched for safeguards so that the powers of the NCTC is not misused
* Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan asked for some changes in the SOPs to "bring in elements of timely information and concurrence of the state government concerned in the spirit of fair coordination" on the matter of 'operation'.
* Manipur CM O Ibobi Singh suggested joint operations (state-centre) for arresting and detaining any person
* Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma raised the issue of federal structure Lone Left voice
* Tripura CM Manik Sarkar of CPM expressed his anguish over several steps, including notification of NCTC and proposed amendments to the RPF and BSF Acts. He said all such decisions were taken by the Centre with serious implication on federalism and tantamount to encroachment upon the rights of the states..............................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDUvMDYjQXIwMDMwMg==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Maoists ...... Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon 's abduction episode

Alex Paul Menon recounts his 12-day captivity tale

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 5, 2012, 02.39AM IST

NEW DELHI: Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon was made to walk for three days in dense Bastar jungle, and taken to various 'liberated' tribal villages by Maoists after his abduction on April 21.

During his post-release 'de-briefing' to Chhattisgarh Police on Friday, Menon, who was abducted from Manjipara village in Sukma, is learnt to have said that his abductors used a motorcycle to take him to these 'places' after three days when he took ill.

"Maoists used to frequently change his locations. He was taken to a number of Naxal-controlled villages for 12 days. Except for one Ganesh - a fairly senior member, who used to send statement to local press - none of other senior members of the CPI (Maoist) had met Menon during the period," an official said quoting the Sukma district collector.

His preliminary 'de-briefing' report says that only junior armed militia met him (Menon) wherever he was taken to. They not only used to escort him to various villages, but also guard him at night. Though none of the armed cadres had ever threatened him with any 'dire consequences', they appeared to be 'ruthless' in their conduct and behaviour.

Menon, who was released on Thursday, is learnt to have told state officials about the wretched conditions of the tribal villages he was taken to. Though he tried to convince the ultras about the importance of 'governance' in these far-flung areas, the Maoists appeared quite 'indifferent' to his overtures.

The collector, who reached his Sukma home on Friday morning from Chintalnar in a helicopter, headed straight to his official residence. Senior officials from Bastar were also present on the occasion.

Senior Chhattisgarh government officials said that Menon underwent a health check after his release. Menon, a 32-year-old 2006-batch IAS officer, was handed over to the two Maoist mediators - B D Sharma and G Hargopal - at Tadmetla on Thursday evening, and he was then brought by road to the CRPF base camp at Chintalnar..................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEyLzA1LzA1I0FyMDEzMDU=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Separate exam for IPS? ...... does not appear to be on board at this juncture ..... it may take another five years to gain all out support

Parliamentary panel suggests separate exam for IPS

http://t.co/lj7RXZFU

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 3, 2012, 02.49AM IST

NEW DELHI: Noting that many young people join Indian Police Service (IPS) only when they don't get their first choice of job in the civil services - specifically Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) -- a parliamentary panel has suggested a separate examination for IPS where "attitude and aptitude" of aspirants are thoroughly tested so that the quality of 'service' is not compromised.

Asking the government to "explore the possibility of conducting a separate examination", the standing committee on home affairs said the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy must be consulted to suggest the modalities.

The UPSC conducts a single examination to recruit officers into IAS, IFS, IPS and other Group 'A' and Group 'B' central services. Aspirants get into different services as per their 'ranking' in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) irrespective of their choice of jobs.

The panel, in its report tabled in Parliament last week, has put a question mark on the current examination system, observing that 'reluctant' entrants into the IPS may not do justice to their policing jobs. "The people aspiring for IPS do not know whether they will get into this or not. In the same way, the people not interested in IPS do not know whether they will get IPS or other services... It has been noticed that people who do not like policing get into IPS," the panel said.

Though UPSC is holding a separate 'limited competitive examination' this year to recruit additional IPS officers from among serving personnel of paramilitary, armed and state police forces of certain ranks to fill vacancies, it does not affect the annual civil services exam which continues to recruit people for many services including police through a common examination system.

The matter had come up for discussion during the standing committee meeting last month when home secretary R K Singh heard the members' concerns and promised to look into their suggestions. In his observation, Singh said, "We can try and recruit only people who have an orientation and commitment for that (policing jobs). An officer may have an orientation for policing, but at the same time, he may want to appear for examination for getting some service which, in his eyes, is better."

The home ministry in its written reply to the committee - comprising 10 MPs from Rajya Sabha and 31 from Lok Sabha - later submitted that "the suggestion of separate selection process for IPS will be examined". 

Incidentally, Singh himself had first got into the IPS after clearing CSE in the 1970s. He took the exam again the next year and got selected for IAS. However, several such IPS officers are not as lucky as the home secretary and have to be in police service against their wish.

The issue was discussed in the parliamentary committee in the context of huge shortage of IPS officers in many states at a time when the country needs their adequate strength to face various internal security challenges including terrorism and Naxalism.

 Times View

 While it might be convenient for civil service aspirants to appear for a single examination that is used to pick recruits for some 20-odd services, it makes little sense from the point of view of the recruiter, that is the government. The exams, as they currently are, cover services as diverse as the IAS, IPS, IFS, the Indian Corporate Law Service, the Indian Ordinance Factories Service and the Indian Railway Traffic Service, to name only a few. Clearly, the skill sets required for someone in the diplomatic service and for those joining various accounts services are very different. Ideally, therefore, the services should be grouped according to skill sets and exams conducted to test each of these skill sets separately.................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDUvMDMjQXIwMDEwNQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

IAS .... IPS ..... what about recruitment? ...... why can't government increase the intake?

Over 3,100 IAS, IPS posts lying vacant

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | May 3, 2012, 02.41AM IST 

NEW DELHI: The top two All India Services of Indian bureaucracy - IAS and IPS - face a shortage of over 3,100 officers across the country, making it difficult for many states to clear administrative work and post senior cops on the ground to face various internal security challenges.

While Indian Police Service (IPS) is short of 1,327 officers, the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) faces shortage of 1,777 officers with maximum vacancy reported from Uttar Pradesh (216), followed by Bihar (128), Madhya Pradesh (118), Rajasthan (112) and Jharkhand (100).

Minister of state for personnel V Narayanasamy said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the Centre had received requests from some state governments for increasing the quota of IAS officers in view of their increased administrative, social and other obligations towards people.

The proposals of the state governments were being considered as per the provisions of IAS (Cadre) Rules, which mandate the Union government to re-examine the strength and composition of IAS officers in consultation with the state concerned at an interval of every five years.

In his written response to a Parliament question, Narayanasamy said the present strength of the IAS was 4,377 against the authorized strength of 6,154. Other states which reported shortage of IAS officers include Andhra Pradesh (92), Karnataka (80), Odisha (78), Manipur-Tripura (70), Tamil Nadu (69), Punjab (60), Kerala (56), Maharashtra (55), Chhattisgarh (54), Gujarat (52) and Jammu and Kashmir (46). Similarly in IPS, the states have a shortage of 1,327 officers.

Union home secretary R K Singh had informed a parliamentary standing committee in April that the actual strength of IPS in the country was 3,393 against the sanctioned strength of 4,720.

Citing one of the reasons for this huge vacancy, Singh had told the panel that the government in the past had reduced the number of seats to about 40 or 30 a year. "For a huge country like ours, recruiting 30 IPS officers a year was not advisable... The number of districts has increased, challenges have increased... The requirements of IPS officers have increased," the home secretary said.......................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDUvMDMjQXIwMTIwMQ==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Rajya Sabha .... Sachin Tendulkar and Rekha .... debate on whether the celebrities who are still active in their profession would do justice with Parliamentary obligations

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Poor attendance record of most celebrities in Rajya Sabha

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Apr 30, 2012, 11.16AM IST

NEW DELHI: Celebrities readily accept government's offer to enter Rajya Sabha as 'nominated' members. But when it comes to attending House proceedings, they - barring a couple of them - prefer to keep themselves away from the very process which shapes country's fate.

Poor attendance records of the celebrities including filmmakers, actors and singers during Parliamentary sessions present a grim picture of the practice of nominating those who are 'active' in their respective professional fields. However, this is not a norm for each and every celebrity who entered the Upper House in the last sixty years.

There are individuals among them who attended the House as regularly as the active politicians or scientists or those from social service fields, but they hardly participated in any major debate or raised issues. Records from the Rajya Sabha show that except film actress Shabana Azami who has highest attendance among celebrities, none of them could make the Rajya Sabha a platform to raise issues of public interest. Singer Lata Mangeshkar and painter M F Husain, on the other hand, had the worst record of not only attending the House but also in participating in a debate or raising any issue.

Fifteen out of 118 members 'nominated' to the Rajya Sabha since 1952 were from different 'arts' fields. It included Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Vajayantimala Bali, Nargis Dutt, Mrinal Sen, Shyam Benegal, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Hema Malini.

Analysis of the attendance records of these members during six consecutive Sessions of their tenure shows Lata Mangeskar who was the Rajya Sabha MP from November 22, 1999 to November 21, 2005 had attended only six out of over 170 sittings 2000-01.

Filmmaker Mrinal Sen had more or less similar records when he had attended 30 out of 170 sittings of Upper House during the same period as compared to 113 by Shabana Azami. Similarly Hema Malini and wrestler Dara Singh who also acted in film and tele-serials too had poor records of attending House proceedings.

Hema Malini who was nominated to the House as MP in August, 2003 had attended only 50 out of 127 sittings during 2004-05 as against Dara Singh who attended 76 sittings during the same period. Though their numbers were higher than Lata, Husain or Mrinal Sen, their record was still quite poor as compared to active politicians, academicians, writers or retired civil servants who joined the Upper House.

The reason for their absence may vary from person to person, but it has put the debate back on the table after the government on Thursday nominated film actress Rekha and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar for the Rajya Sabha. Since Sachin is still an active cricketer, it is to be seen whether he would be absent from the Rajya Sabha like most of celebrities or he would rather mark for himself in Parliament, like he has on the cricketing field.

Maoists ...... mediator's pitch before the negotiation in the Alex Paul Menon abduction episode

‘Kidnapping OK in war-like situation’

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Apr 26, 2012, 03.16AM IST

NEW DELHI: With the Chhattisgarh government getting ready to formally begin its negotiation from Thursday to get abducted Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon released, B D Sharma - one of the Maoist handpicked negotiators - on Wednesday said that he did not condemn the abduction which, he claimed, had happened in a "war-like" situation.

Setting the tone for the grueling task ahead, Sharma, a retired IAS officer and former commissioner of the National Commission for SC/ST, said it was important to note that the Maoists were not begging for some favours.

On Thursday, Sharma will be flown to Raipur, where he will first contact the other Maoist-nominated interlocutor, G Hargopal, before meeting the two Chhattisgarh government-nominated mediators - former chief secretaries of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Nirmala Buch and S K Mishra.

The stand taken by Sharma, while addressing a press conference here a day before the negotiation begins, was in sync with what the Maoists' professed justification of their violence. It was an indication that the retired IAS officer, who had also served as collector in Bastar, might be sending a 'right' signal to the ultras. 

Though Sharma tried to evade questions on killing of innocents by Maoists, he said all such things happened in a "war-like" situation that must be corrected taking in view the 'violence' committed by the other side (security forces) against tribals.

He said the collector's abduction had already become an issue of "deep concern from countless perception".

Though he refused to condemn the abduction of Menon, he held that the abduction of two Italians in Odisha was not right. "I did condemn the abduction of foreigners. After all, foreigners are not harming tribals and villagers who are actually a victim of existing system (government)," he said.

Stating that the Maoists were not begging for favours, he said, "They (the Maoists) were of the opinion that hundreds of fake cases had been forced on innocent tribals who are unaware of them. They are being held in jails of Dantewada and Raipur without knowing what it was all about. They also have demanded that cases registered against an elderly journalist and Binayak Sen should be withdrawn."....................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDQvMjYjQXIwMTUwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Alex Paul Menon .... Chhattisgarh handles the crisis from the 'position of strength' unlike Odisha

UAV zeroes in on area where Maoists are holding district collector Alex Paul Menon

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Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Apr 24, 2012, 01.39AM IST

NEW DELHI: The search for Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon has narrowed down to a forested stretch 15 km from Manjipara in Chhatisgarh, with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) relaying images of a group of Maoists suspected to be holding the official near the Odisha border.

Although such details would have been useful for an operation, security forces have been instructed to exercise restraint in order to ensure the safe release of Menon who was kidnapped on Saturday while surveying the implementation of development schemes in Sukma, considered to be the worst Naxal-affected district in the country.

"Latest imagery sent by the UAV shows a gathering of 300-400 suspected Maoists in the area. Although it may not help the forces which have been asked to remain in camps at this juncture for the sake of Menon's safety, the idea is to get as much information as possible for any action, if needed," a top home ministry official said. 

Chhattisgarh government had on Sunday asked security forces to scale down 'pro-active' anti-Naxal operations and remain 'low key' in the region, but it has been tracking the movement of Maoists through the UAV.

Sources here said the Chhattisgarh government was trying to handle the hostage situation differently from Odisha. Even as the Raman Singh government wanted to open channels with the Maoists for safe release of the collector, it refused to vacate the area. "Efforts are being made by state government to first send medicines for Menon who is an asthma patient," he said.

The Centre on Monday took stock of the situation in a high-level meeting chaired by home minister P Chidambaram, and sent an advisory to all Naxal-affected states asking them to frame Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) having dos and don'ts for civil administration officials and politicians in Maoist zones. 

"Since district collectors and other senior officials have always been on Maoists' hit list, it is advisable to move in the area with adequate forces after doing proper sanitization exercise and informing local police station, unlike what Menon did," a home ministry official said.

After the meeting, attended by national security advisor Shivshankar Menon and Intelligence Bureau chief Nehchal Sandhu, Union home secretary R K Singh said, "We are in regular touch with the state government. Whatever support is needed by them is being given, will be given."

Officials are learnt to have also discussed exploring the option of having some guidelines to deal with hostage situations in Naxal-affected states as there is no set policy, leaving individual states to handle the situation on their own with the Centre chipping in only when asked.

An official said this option would, however, be discussed with all states in due course and any guidelines, if any, would be framed with consent of all stakeholders. Security forces have observed that the abduction was being done by the ultras to compel the forces, who had gained solid ground after stepping up offensives in Maoist zones, to scale down or end their operations in the areas.

The Naxals had tasted 'success' of this strategy after the abduction of then Malkanigiri district collector R Vineel Krishna last year when they had not only got their cadres released but also made security forces substantially scale down operations.

The ultras repeated the strategy in March this year when they abducted two Italians and BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka. The Odisha government not only stopped all operations against them since March 18 but also agreed to release 25 Naxals. Though the ultras released the Italians, they have still kept Hikaka captive looking for bigger bargain.

Incidentally, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh had talked about the Naxals' new strategy only a week before Menon's abduction. Speaking at the chief ministers' conference on internal security, Singh had on April 16 reminded the participants about the ultras' strategy saying, "It is now clear that the Naxalites are trying to gain control in areas with abundant natural resources through their terror tactics" using abduction as "a strategic weapon in their fight".

It is noticed that in both Odisha and Chhattisgarh abduction cases, husbands of women ultras were at the forefront to save their wives by getting them released. While in Odisha, CPI (Maoist) state organizing committee secretary Sabyasachi Panda had bargained for release of his wife Subhashree Das alias Mili Panda in exchange for the Italians, Dandkaranya zonal committee leader Vijay Reddy alias Gundsa Usendi is learnt to have been behind the abduction of Menon with the help of other top armed ultras.

Vjay Reddy's wife Shantipriya alias Malati Reddy is one of the eight Maoists whose release was demanded by the ultras in exchange for Menon. Malati was one of the key members of the CPI (Maoist) who was tasked with setting up urban networks in Bhilai and Raipur.........................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDQvMjQjQXIwMTUwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom

Maoist ..... another abduction ..... Alex Paul Menon .... a major setback on operational front for security forces

Plan no Red attack, Bastar forces told

Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Apr 23, 2012, 01.12AM IST

NEW DELHI: As soon as the Maoists listed their demands for safe release of Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, the state government on Sunday asked central forces deployed in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh to remain in their camps till further orders even as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) made a number of sorties to gather information/images of the ultras' hideouts.

Officials in central agencies, who have been in regular touch with state police and civil administration, said the forces had been asked to remain 'low-key' without actually leaving the area as authorities do not want to give an impression of any offensive against the Maoists at this juncture.

"Though we cannot take the risk of any pro-active measures, different agencies have been put on alert. The UAV - deployed after the abduction -- has been focusing on the Bastar region to get clues," an official said.

It is believed that the ultras might have abducted Menon to get some breathing space by keeping security forces at bay, specifically when the CPI (Maoist) has been desperately looking for an opportunity to hold its tenth party congress. The ultras generally hold their party congress after every five years to finetune their strategy and select new members to fill vacancies in the politburo.

 The CPI (Maoist) politburo has only six members against the original strength of 14. Seats are vacant in the highest decision-making body of the Naxals after elimination of leaders like Kishenji and Azad and arrest of Kobad Ghandy in the past two years.

Ever since the security forces launched offensives against the ultras by entering their den in the Bastar jungles in Chhattisgarh and also in their hideouts (Saranda and Latehar) in Jharkhand, the CPI (Maoist) has been looking for a safe place to hold its congress.

The Maoists on Sunday demanded release of eight jailed ultras, besides seeking a stop to all operations against them. "One of the eight Maoists, Shantipriya Reddy - whose release is sought by the ultras - is the wife of Naxal leader Vijay Reddy who used to issue press statement on behalf of CPI (Maoist) in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh," an official said.

Admitting that the abduction would have some impact in anti-Naxal operations, officials here said the state government in Chhattisgarh could negotiate from a "position of strength" unlike in Odisha where the state government was literally forced by the ultras to give in to their demands to get two Italians released.........................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=Q0FQLzIwMTIvMDQvMjMjQXIwMTAwMA==&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom