http://www.dilipcherian.com Dilip Cherian http://backend.userland.com/rss http://mybloggie.mywebland.com/?v= http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=310 06 Feb 2012 01:17:12 pm GMT +5.5 General http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=310 Food for thought There are no free lunches, literally, in Union Minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh’s domain. The minister who strives to strike a different note has launched a vigorous austerity drive in his ministry and its associated departments. In the minister’s crosshair now is the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART), which operates out of tony India Habitat Centre and has regional offices across the country. Sources say that CAPART is at the top of Mr Ramesh’s restructuring efforts. Officials working in CAPART were routinely issued lunch coupons which they used in IHC’s upscale restaurants. Ramesh has stopped this practice claiming it a frivolous waste of money. No one would disagree, except perhaps the officials who are experiencing hunger pangs. But perhaps they ought to worry about Mr Ramesh’s proposed plan to shut down 9 regional centres of CAPART. That’s a sure way to lose one’s appetite and a lot of rather somnolent babus. Food for thought There are no free lunches, literally, in Union Minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh’s domain. The minister who strives to strike a different note has launched a vigorous austerity drive in his ministry and its associated departments. In the minister’s crosshair now ......

]]> http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=310 http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=309 30 Jan 2012 12:19:18 pm GMT +5.5 General http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=309 Missing signature If you ever wondered why the ‘war against corruption’ more often than not hits a brick wall, it might be worthwhile to consider this episode. More than three years ago, the Central Board for Direct taxes (CBDT) initiated departmental action against 30 revenue officials, but the issue has not progressed for want of the finance minister’s signature on the chargesheets. Consequently, the chargesheets were quashed by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). Interestingly Sudha Sharma, director general of vigilance at CBDT is quite clear in stating that there are no such chargesheets, despite the board having challenged the CAT orders by taking the matter to the Supreme Court!. According to sources, even babu-watchers are surprised at the course of action adopted by CBDT. All, it needs to do, they say, is file fresh chargesheets, this time with the finance minister’s approval. Missing signature If you ever wondered why the ‘war against corruption’ more often than not hits a brick wall, it might be worthwhile to consider this episode. More than three years ago, the Central Board for Direct taxes (CBDT) initiated departmental action against 30 revenue officials, ......

]]> http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=309 http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=308 23 Jan 2012 02:29:01 pm GMT +5.5 General http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=308 All bark, no bite? The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) succeeds where the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) failed! The CBI recently arrested central excise commissioner Anup Kumar Srivastava for his alleged role in a tax evasion case. This followed a raid by CBI on Mr Srivastava’s premises earlier this month. But the curious thing about this episode is that Mr Srivastava was already on the radar of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which had recommended that the official be transferred to a “non-sensitive” post. It’s an interesting example of the CVC’s lack of clout that its letter to the chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) to transfer Mr Srivastava ran into a wall once it reached the finance ministry. While CBEC chief S.K. Goel and other members of the panel agreed to transfer Mr Srivastava to Jaipur, they were stymied by other babus in the Finance Ministry. Had the CBI not arrested Mr Srivastava, sources say, he would have in all likelihood continued at his post. All bark, no bite? The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) succeeds where the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) failed! The CBI recently arrested central excise commissioner Anup Kumar Srivastava for his alleged role in a tax evasion case. This followed a raid by CBI on Mr Srivastava’s ......

]]> http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=308 http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=307 16 Jan 2012 02:43:13 pm GMT +5.5 General http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=307 A rare joy Whistleblowers among the tribesmen (yes, that rare breed still exists) rarely find their careers sailing smoothly, even in these enlightened days where the cry for accountability and transparency is shaking babu bastions. Ask Sanjiv Chaturvedi, a lowly Indian Forest Officer in Haryana, who clearly rubbed the powers that be the wrong way during his five year tenure in the state forest department. For exposing irregularities and violations of the Wildlife Act, the forest babu suffered 12 transfers, several chargesheets, FIRs and inquiries! Further, Mr Chaturvedi’s request for Central deputation was repeatedly obstructed by the Haryana government. Fortunately for him, the Centre empanelled his name, nevertheless. And recently, even the CBI has said it believes that the forest scam Mr Chaturvedi exposed “is a fit case to investigate independently”. This should bring some joy to the whistleblower. A rare joy Whistleblowers among the tribesmen (yes, that rare breed still exists) rarely find their careers sailing smoothly, even in these enlightened days where the cry for accountability and transparency is shaking babu bastions. Ask Sanjiv Chaturvedi, a lowly Indian Forest Officer in ......

]]> http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=307 http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=306 09 Jan 2012 06:00:03 pm GMT +5.5 General http://www.dilipcherian.com/index.php?mode=viewid&post_id=306 Hectic political activity seems to have eclipsed everything else in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. But the usual business of babudom continues amid the election din. Chief Minister Mayawati’s relationship with her babus has been prickly at best, especially with those who have refused to kowtow to her wishes. In September the state’s senior-most IAS officer Promilla Shankar, who was posted as commissioner in the NCR region cell found herself suspended for invoking Behanji’s ire. As reported earlier in this column it created quite a buzz in babu circles. Apparently, Ms Shankar has not accepted her fate meekly. Recently, sources say, she has challenged the UP government’s recent decision to extend her suspension, claiming that no officer can be suspended for more than 45 days if no disciplinary action is taken during that period. Over to Ms Mayawati! Hectic political activity seems to have eclipsed everything else in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. But the usual business of babudom continues amid the election din. Chief Minister Mayawati’s relationship with her babus has been prickly at best, especially with those who have refused to kowtow to ......

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