NEW DELHI, July 18:
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has extended by six months, till December 1, the tenure of an eight-member committee of experts formed to review pending cases referred to it by CBI for sanction of prosecution.
The tenure of the committee has been extended for a period of six months with effect from July 1, said an order issued by CVC.
The experts are Vivek Mehrotra, retired IAS officer and former Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, V S Jain, ex- Chairman, SAIL and three former IPS officers Uday Shankar Dutt, Balwinder Singh and R N Ravi.
Besides them, Prakash Chandra, the then Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), D L Rawal, former Chairman and Managing Director of Dena Bank and M Venugopalan, former CMD, Bank of India are also on the committee.
The committee was formed for a period of two years on July 1, 2012.
CVC tenders advice in respect of officers coming under its jurisdiction against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after probing the case, has recommended sanction for prosecution.
“On a few occasions, where the Commission has in agreement with the CBI’s recommendations, advised sanction for prosecution against a public servant, the disciplinary authority, in disagreement with the CBI’s recommendations, approaches the Commission for reconsideration of its advice.
“A Committee under the chairmanship of a Vigilance Commissioner along with two experts from the panel takes a final view on the case,” a CVC official said explaining the working of the panel.
CVC is headed by Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar and two Vigilance Commissioners—Rajiv and J M Garg.
The Commission is awaiting for over four months sanction of prosecution against 65 officials allegedly involved in corruption, according to its latest data.
Of a total of 29 cases involving these officials, a highest of six are pending with Delhi Jal Board, four with Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, three with Bank of India, two each with Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of India and Ministry of Home Affairs among others.
The sanction for prosecution is awaited in one case each of Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Ministry of Coal and Mines, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and Ministry of Finance, it said.
As per the norms, sanction for prosecution has to be decided within four months time. (PTI)
CVC extends experts panel’s tenure on prosecution sanction
Modi writes to Dutch PM, condoles death of Holland nationals
NEW DELHI, July 18:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wrote to his Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte condoling the death of Dutch nationals in the Malaysian air tragedy.
“I was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the very tragic and unfortunate loss of nearly 300 lives in the Malaysian airliner crash in Ukraine. As more than half of those who perished in the crash were from the Netherlands, this terrible tragedy must be particularly painful to you and the people of your country,” Modi said in a letter to Rutte.
The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 flight MH17 was blown up over Eastern Ukraine by a sophisticated BAK surface-to-air missile yesterday believed to be fired by pro-Russia rebels.
Modi said the people of India share the sorrow and stand in mourning with the bereaved families and the Dutch people in their hour of grief.
“While nothing can compensate for the sudden and the senseless loss of their loved ones, I do hope they will draw some comfort and strength from the thoughts and prayers of people around the world,” he said.
The Prime Minister hoped that the circumstances of the disaster are “established quickly” so that all can work in preventing such tragedies.
Those killed included 173 nationals from the Netherlands from whose capital Amsterdam the Flight MH17 took off for Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. About 100 of those killed were world renowned AIDS researchers and activists heading to Australia for an AIDS conference. (PTI)
BSP demands degree college at Katra
Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, July 18: A meeting was held by Bahujan Samaj Party under the chairmanship of candidate Karan Singh wherein they highlighted the various problems faced by the people, including electric supply and irregular supply of drinking water, today.
The people of Katra and its surrounding areas also complaint that students after completion of 10+2 education have to go for higher education study either to Reasi or Jammu by traveling 70km or 90 km and their most of the time goes waste during the traveling. So they demand for degree college at Katra.
The meet also decided to hold one day conference of Reasi Assembly segment on July 20th, 2014 which will be addressed by Narinder Kashyap, MP (Rajya Sabha) and general secretary Gurnam Singh. They appealed the workers to participate in a big way to make the conference meaningful.
Yuva Rajput Sabha celebrates birth anniversary of Maharaja Partap Singh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: Yuva Rajput Sabha celebrated the 166th birth anniversary of Maharaja Partap Singh at GGM Science College Jammu here today.
A large number of youth participated on the occasion and they raised slogans in favour of Maharaja Partap Singh. Sweets were also distributed among the people.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajinder Singh said that Maharaja Partap Singh was a great ruler and an educational reformer and he was an example of unity, integrity and inspiration for the unity of Rajputs.
He also added that the birthday of Maharaja Partap Singh should be declared as public holiday. During the time of Pratap Singh, the first major step of improvement was taken in 1889 when the Jhelum Valley Road, the most wonderful mountain road in the world, from Kohala to Baramulla was completed. It was extended to Srinagar in 1897. In 1922, another great highway, the Banihal Cart Road, was constructed which connected Jammu with Srinagar. Besides these, many feeder roads in the State including those connecting Srinagar with Gilgit and Leh were also constructed, he added.
He further stated that Maharaja Partap Singh gave one degree college each at Jammu (Prince of Wales College, established in 1907, and Srinagar (Sri Pratap College established in 1905) and Amar Singh Technical Institute at the latter (1914) and Sri Pratap Technical School at the former (1924) were maintained to meet the demands for higher education. He also gave modern hospitals for both males and females were also established at Srinagar and Jammu.
Among others present were Ranjit Singh, Surinder Singh, Parveen Singh, Rajveer Singh, Sonu Langeh, Pushpinder Singh, Jatinder Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Nitish Singh, Rakesh Singh, Rajinder Chib, Maan Singh, Jai Singh, Dimple and Manni.
Five yrs RI to 4 real brothers in attempt to murder case
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: Principal Sessions Judge Poonch, Jaffer Hussain Beigh today awarded five years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2,000 to four real brothers namely Qamer Din, Qadeer Hussain, Mohd Latief and Mohd Sadiq, sons of Sahib Din and residents of village Chandak, district Poonch, who were facing trial in attempt to murder case for the last 10 years.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Sessions Judge Poonch observed, “the court has to keep the object of punishment and the nature of the crime committed by the accused into consideration”, adding “the object of punishment is reformatory. Too lenient as well as too harsh to sentence both lose their efficaciousness”.
“One does not deter and the other may frustrate thereby making the offender a hardened criminal. But the offence committed by the accused persons is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine”.
With these observations, court awarded five years imprisonment to accused persons.
CAG finds fault with Railways’ PPP projects execution
NEW DELHI, July 18:
Finding fault with railways’ PPP projects execution, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has observed that the national transporter failed to adhere to standard procedures and rules were violated in selection of private players.
The CAG in its latest report tabled in Parliament today has found that faulty assessment was made on internal rate of return (IRR), project approvals were marred by delays and there was lack of any monitoring mechanism for these projects.
The audit body found that railways did not formulate any model agreement for execution of the projects within the stipulated time frame, nor did it adopt the model prescribed by the Planning Commission for PPP projects in infrastructure sector.
Taking the example of Viramgam Mahesana Private Ltd (VMPL), a gauge conversion project between Viramgam and Mahesana to cater to the defence requirement, the CAG said the approval of Finance Ministry was not taken for build operate and transfer (BOT) mode of payment of access charge.
“The annual earning of the project was Rs 6.45 crore against the annual access charge payment of Rs 15.94 cr. The project sustained loss despite estimated internal rate of return (IRR) of 22 per cent,” the audit report said.
The CAG criticised the lack of a model concession agreement (MCA), a framework of contract that sets the terms for incentives and targets for the private player.
Railways did not formulate model concession agreement for ppp projects.
“The audit observed that Railway Ministry did not formulate any MCA for these projects. On the contrary, it finalised each agreement separately based on its experience in Pipavav Rail Corporation Limited (PRCL), the first PPP project and the same was adopted as a benchmark while finalising subsequent agreements,” the report said.
It noted that though monthly progress reports were being prepared by special purpose vehicle (SPVs), there were however, no records confirming the fact that the progress of the projects was being monitored by the construction progress review board.
“The role of Railway Ministry for monitoring the performance of projects was not laid down in any of the concession agreements,” it said.
The CAG has also observed that absence of model concession agreement led to adoption of varying approaches towards fixation of concession period, lease rent and liability of railways at the time of transfer of assets by the SPVs.
Railways launched schemes to supplement investment in partnership with private players for specific projects to develop port linkages. PPP is one of such initiatives to develop infrastructure in railways. (PTI)
ITI employees postpone mass casual leave program
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: The coordination committee of J&K ITI Employees United Front and ITI Employees Association today decided to take back its call of mass casual leave programme scheduled to be held on July 19.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the committee held here under the chairmanship of State president, J&K ITI Employees United Front, Nazir Ahmed Molvi.
“Since the Government has attached Munir Ahmed, Incharge, Deputy Director, who was responsible for this entire messy situation to delay the genuine issues of the employees, we took back our call of holding mass casual leave programme that was announced to be held on July 19, 2014”, the meeting said and appreciated the decision of the Government to attach Munir Ahmed Mir to State Board of Technical Education.
“The programme is postponed and the Director, Technical Education, is requested to consider the long pending demands of the ITI employees viz. holding of DPC meetings of both gazetted and non-gazetted employees to clear the pending promotions and filling of vacant posts, regularization of all adhoc, contractual and academic employees, finalization of recruitment rules and enhancement of salary of academic, which had already been discussed with him”, the Committee said.
Employees get Insurance Policy
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 18: The State Government has accorded sanction to the tie up of Group Janta Personal Accidental Insurance Policy with M/s Oriental Insurance Company Ltd for a period of 12 months commencing from July 17, 2014 midnight.
The policy shall cover an aggregate of 3.40 lac employees of all categories working in the State Government Departments, PSUs, Autonomous Bodies and shall also include the Daily Rated Workers, Consolidated/ Contractual /Adhoc employees and the SPOs.
The sum insured under the policy shall be Rs 5 lakh per employee against payment of a yearly premium of Rs 138/- inclusive of service tax of Rs 13.
A detailed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) indicating the terms and conditions and other related details shall be executed soon between the Government of J&K State and M/s Oriental Insurance Company Limited.
The Government has also accorded sanction for the drawal of an amount of Rs 2,23,83,680 for releasing the same to M/s Oriental Insurance Company Ltd as premium for Group Janta Personal Accidental Insurance Policy for the employees.
Aman Menon consolidates position
Hyderabad, July 18:
Vir Aman Menon from RMYC enjoyed yet another field day in office by cruising ahead with three incredible Laser 4.7 wins in the Laser National Sailing Championship 2014at Hussain Sagar Lake here today. Overnight leader Dharmendra Singh had two wins in the Laser Standard competitions while his AYN team-mate Sharif Khan won the final Laser Radial race.
Results-Laser Standard Race No 7: 1. Gajendra Singh, 2.B Mahapatra, 3.Gurjeet Singh (all AYN); Race No 8: 1. Dharmendra Singh, 2.Gitesh, 3.Ramesh Kumar (all AYN); Race No 9: 1. Dharmendra Singh, 2.Gajendra Singh, 3.B K Rout (EMESA) Laser 4.7 Race No 7: 1.Vir Amar Menon (RMYC), 2. Vishnu A Sujesh (TNSA), 3.Arayaman Datta (RBYC); Race No 8: 1.Veer Aman Menon, 2.Vishunu A Sujeesh, 3.Shaikher Garg (NSS); Race No 9: 1.Veer Amar Menon, 2.Dheer Singhi (RMYC), 3 Arayaman Dutta. Laser radial final race: 1. Sharif Khan (AYN), 2.Dilip Kumar (EMESA), 3.Kuldeep Kumar Panday (AYN). (UNI)
SIC DB directs SKIMS to implement Section 4 of RTI Act within 3 months
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 18: A Division Bench of State Information Commission has directed SKIMS Soura, Srinagar to implement the mandate of Section 4 of the RTI Act within three month for serving the cause of information seekers.
Reprimanding SKIMS for not implementing Section 4 of the RTI Act so far, the DB observed that statutory obligation imposed on every public authority with Jammu and Kashmir will help the information seekers to download the required information from the website without any hindrance besides saving the public authority concerned from hassles and future of multiple RTI applications filed before it from time to time.
These observations and direction were given by the Division Bench of Station Information Commissioner Dr S K Sharma and Nazir Ahmed while disposing of a Second Appeal by one Saqib Faheem Kachroo challenging the order passed by FAA and PIO.
The applicant, instead of depositing the documentation charges of Rs 2156 as cost of information, preferred First Appeal to FAA (Director SKIMS Soura) who also disposed it of with the observations that huge, enoromous, lengthy, time consuming and randomly asked information was not possible to be issued to the information seeker in the larger hospital and patient care interest.
The second appeal was initially listed before Single Bench of Srinagar Wing of the Commission, which after hearing the matter, observed that appeal under reference involves important question of interpretation of law and therefore referred the matter to CIC for constitution of a Division Bench.
After hearing both the sides, the Commission directed the PIO to allow the appellant an opportunity to inspect the record in his office during office hours and provide certified copies of relevant documents, if any, required by the appellant on payment of requisite fee as prescribed under J&K RTI Rules 2012.