Mayank Mishra (IRS-IT: 2009), recommended for central deputation by the Department of Revenue, has been chosen to serve as Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Delhi, for a duration of five years. As per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has granted its approval for Mr. Mishra’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. His term will encompass five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever takes place earlier.
Pradeep Kumar Pal appointed as Director, UPSC
Pradeep Kumar Pal (IRSSE:2009), proposed for central deputation by the Ministry of Railways, has been appointed as Director in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Delhi, for a five-year term. As outlined in an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has given its approval for Mr. Pal’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. His tenure will span five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
Monica Thind appointed as Director, M/o Statistics & Programme Implementation
Monica Thind (IES:2008), recommended for central deputation by the Department of Economic Affairs, has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Delhi, for a tenure of five years. As per the order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (24.11.2023), the central government has granted approval for Ms. Thind’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. Her term will extend for five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever transpires earlier.
Ankit Dugar appointed as Director, MoRTH
Ankit Dugar (IRSSE:2009), recommended for central deputation by the Ministry of Railways, has been chosen to serve as Director in the Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways (MoRTH) for a five-year term. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order on Friday (24.11.2023), confirming the central government’s approval for Mr. Dugar’s appointment under the central staffing scheme. His tenure will extend for five years from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
Bhawna Gulati appointed as Chief Accounts Officer, DDA
Bhawna Gulati (IRS-IT:2011) has been appointed as the Chief Accounts Officer at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), a Non-CSS post, for a duration of four years. As outlined in an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Thursday (23.11.2023), the competent authority has endorsed Ms. Gulati’s appointment for a four-year term from the date of assuming the post or until further orders, whichever transpires earlier.
Govt appoints Central Prabhari Officers for 7 aspirational districts
The central government on Thursday (23.11.2023) announced the appointment of Central Prabhari Officers (CPOs) for 7 districts under the Aspirational District Programme.
Newly appointed CPOs for 7 districts are as follows:
- Himani Pande (IAS:1998:JH), Joint Secretary, DPIIT, has been appointed CPO of Ranchi in Jharkhand.
- Palka Sahni (IAS:2004:BH), Joint Secretary, D/o Food & Public Distribution, has been appointed CPO of Jamui in Bihar.
- Shashank Misra (IAS:2007:MP), Joint Secretary, M/o Power, has been appointed as CPO of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
- Varsha Joshi (IAS:1995:AGMUT), Additional Secretary, D/o Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has been appointed as CPO of Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Amit Kumar Ghosh (IAS:1994:UP), Additional Secretary, D/o Social Justice & Empowerment, has been appointed as CPO of Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
- Indra Mallo (IAS:1999:MH), Joint Secretary, M/o Women & Child Development, has been appointed as CPO of Washim in Maharashtra.
- Satya Prakash Vashishth (IFoS:1994:AM), Executive Director, D/o Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, has been appointed as CPO of Dhubri in Assam.
Critical Shortage: 178 DIG and SP positions unfilled among 215 vacancies in CAPF, CBI, and IB
Amidst a significant shortage of officers, central police organizations and central forces grapple with a total of 215 vacancies across various ranks, including Director General (DG), Additional Director General (ADG), Inspector General (IG), Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and Superintendent of Police (SP). The most critical deficit is observed specifically at the DIG and SP levels, where a staggering 178 positions remain unoccupied.
As per the latest vacancy status report from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), of the total vacancies, 178 are concentrated at the level of DIG and SP ranks within central police agencies and organizations. Presently, only three officers of the ranks of DIG and SP are available for central deputation, leaving a substantial gap in critical leadership roles.
The “offer list,” updated as of November 21, reveals that 11 senior IPS officers have been cleared for central deputation by their respective state cadres and governments. Among them, one is a DIG-ranked officer, and two hold the SP rank. However, these numbers fall significantly short of addressing the prevailing shortage.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are particularly hard-hit by this scarcity, bearing the brunt of the maximum vacancies at the DIG and SP levels. Currently, the CBI has 44 vacant positions at this level, while the IB faces an even higher number, with 73 such positions remaining unfilled. Both organizations play pivotal roles in the country’s law enforcement and security.
The scarcity of police officers within central government organizations is not a recent issue, prompting the government to explore various solutions. Initiatives include the induction of officers from central police forces like the Border Security Force (BSF) into the CBI through a ‘lateral shift’ approach. Additionally, the government has revised IPS tenure rules, amending the policy to make officers with a minimum of five years’ service eligible for induction into organizations like R&AW, IB, NIA, and CBI. This strategic shift aims to address the persistent challenge of officer shortages and enhance the operational efficiency of these crucial agencies.
Haryana: TVSN Prasad appointed to investigate cross-complaints by Ashok Khemka and Sanjeev Verma
The Haryana government has designated Senior IAS officer TVSN Prasad (IAS:1988:HY) to conduct an in-depth inquiry into a series of grievances exchanged between IAS officer Ashok Khemka (IAS:1991:HY) and his IAS colleague, Sanjeev Verma (IAS:2004:HY). Prasad, serving as the Financial Commissioner of Revenue with an additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary, home, will scrutinize a multitude of complaints submitted by both officers to the state government.
The discord between the two civil servants dates back to April 2022. The dispute originated when Verma, then Managing Director of Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC), filed a complaint with the police, seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against his senior colleague, Ashok Khemka, and three others. The complaint alleged that appointments in HSWC were made in an illegal and arbitrary manner.
In response, ACS rank Ashok Khemka lodged an FIR against Sanjeev Verma, accusing him of making false charges and framing an inaccurate document with the intent to cause harm. Both FIRs were filed on April 26, 2022, invoking provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. However, the FIRs remain dormant due to the police’s failure to fulfill the statutory requirement of obtaining prior approval under section 17-A of the PC Act before registering an FIR.
Since then, a series of complaints and counter-complaints have been filed by the two civil servants. Recognizing the need to investigate the complaints from both parties, it was decided to appoint an IAS officer of appropriate seniority to conduct a comprehensive fact-finding inquiry. Hence, Prasad, the most senior officer in the cadre after the Chief Secretary, has been entrusted with this responsibility.
Khemka’s complaints against Sanjeev Verma encompass various issues, including Verma’s appointment in the Haryana Civil Services (HCS) on compassionate grounds, appointments in the archives department under the outsourcing policy, attempts to implicate a lawmaker holding a constitutional post in the oustees quota plots case, and misuse of official vehicle and stationery.
In contrast, Verma has lodged complaints against Khemka concerning appointments in the Haryana Space Application Research Centre, HSWC recruitment, and the appointment of a deputy director-rank official in the archaeology and museums department.
SC intervenes on Delhi CS row: ‘Centre suggests names, Delhi picks one’
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi government and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor to engage in discussions regarding the shortlisting of candidates for the Chief Secretary position in the national capital. The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, urged both parties to exchange the names of potential candidates before the central government finalizes the shortlist on Tuesday.
This directive came in response to a plea filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, against the Centre for extending the tenure of the current Delhi Chief Secretary, Naresh Kumar – or appoint a new official.
During the hearing, the bench instructed the central government to propose a list of three candidates, from which the Delhi government would make a selection. The three names would be disclosed after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Center, discusses them internally.
The bench emphasized the need for a practical resolution, suggesting that the Lieutenant Governor (VK Saxena) and the Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal) should meet to resolve the matter without resorting to court intervention. The central government agreed to this suggestion but requested that the names of the candidates remain confidential.
In agreement with this request, Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality to prevent harm to the reputation of individuals not selected, stating, “You cannot reveal the name as this causes serious harm to the reputation of the person who is not selected.”
The AAP government has made several allegations against Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, including involvement in a multi-crore ‘hospital scam.’ Previously, the party accused Kumar of a Rs 850-crore land compensation scam related to the Dwarka Expressway project. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has forwarded the Vigilance Department’s report on the ‘hospital scam’ to VK Saxena and has called for Kumar’s removal due to allegations of his involvement in the scandal.
IES Dilasha Anand posted as Deputy Director, Department of Economic Affairs
Dilasha Anand (IES:2015), on compulsory wait with IES Cadre, has been posted as Deputy Director, Department of Economic Affairs by temporarily downgrading a vacant JAG level post to STS level.
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