The central deputation tenure of Richa Misra (IDAS:1996), serving as Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor in the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, has been extended by one year. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order on Tuesday (30.01.2024), stating that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has sanctioned the extension of Ms. Misra’s deputation tenure beyond 19.01.2024, or until further orders, whichever occurs earlier.
ACC clears empanelment of officers including Dinesh Uniyal to IG (General Duty) rank in CRPF
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has granted approval for the inclusion of officers, among them Dinesh Uniyal, in the empanelment for promotion to the rank of Inspector General (General Duty) within the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). This advancement, in Level 14 of the Pay Matrix, is effective from the date of assuming the post and remains in force until additional directives are issued, for the panel year 2024.
ACC clears empanelment of officers including NK Mehta to IG rank in BSF
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has granted approval for the inclusion of officers, including Navneet Kumar Mehta, in the list eligible for promotion to the rank of Inspector General (General Duty) within the Border Security Force (BSF). This promotion will be effective from the date of assuming the post and will be in Level 14 of the Pay Matrix for the panel year 2024 until any subsequent orders are issued.
R Lakshmanan gets extension as Joint Secretary, M/o Ports, Shipping & Waterways
The central deputation tenure of R Lakshmanan (IAS: 2004: BH), currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, has been extended for a duration of two years. As per an order from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (30.01.2024), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has granted approval for the proposal to extend Mr. Lakshmanan’s deputation tenure. The extension is applicable for two years beyond 14.02.2024, or until further orders, whichever takes place earlier.
Jharkhand: ACS Home Avinash Kumar removed
The Jharkhand government on Wednesday removed Senior IAS officer Avinash Kumar (IAS:1993:JH) from the position of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Home Department. Chief Secretary L Khiangte (IAS:1988:JH) will now assume the additional charge of the Home, Jail, and Disaster Management Department.
This decision comes amid the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) interrogation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in connection with a money laundering case. Avinash Kumar is yet to be assigned a new responsibility.
Centre appoints 4 members to 16th Finance Commission
Following the appointment of Arvind Panagariya as the Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, the government has announced the appointment of three full-time members and one part-time member to the Commission.
The three full-time Members are:
- Ajay Narayan Jha (Retd.IAS:1982:MN) – Former Member of the 15th Finance Commission and former Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
- Annie George Mathew (IA&AS:1988) – Former Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure.
- Niranjan Rajadhyaksha – Executive Director, Artha Global.
Additionally, Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor at the State Bank of India, will serve as a part-time member.
Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey was earlier appointed as the Secretary to the 16th Finance Commission on December 31. These appointments are significant as the Commission plays a crucial role in recommending the distribution of financial resources between the Union and the States in India.
The 16th Finance Commission, responsible for determining the tax-sharing formula between the Centre and states, is anticipated to present its recommendations by October 31, 2025, covering a five-year award period starting April 1, 2026.
In November, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the commission’s Terms of Reference (ToR), encompassing the distribution of net tax proceeds between the Union and states and principles governing grants-in-aid. The ToR, described as “short but all-encompassing,” were developed in consultation with states, offering flexibility for stakeholder inputs.
CBI files closure report in extortion case against ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted a closure report in an extortion case against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh (IPS:1988:MH) and four others. The case, registered in Thane in July 2021, accused Singh, a deputy commissioner of police, and two others. The CBI, in its report filed on January 18, stated that the complainant failed to provide specific details of alleged meetings and money transactions. Furthermore, witnesses to a settlement between two parties did not support the complainant’s claims. The agency emphasized that the allegations lacked corroboration from independent evidence.
The CBI has approached a Thane court, seeking the closure of the case registered under section 384 (extortion) among other charges. The accused also include then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Parag Manere, builder Sanjay Punamiya, his associate Sunil Jain, and private individual Manoj Ghotkar.
The case originated from a complaint by Sharad Agrawal, who alleged that his uncle, builder Shyam Sundar Agrawal, was arrested by the Thane crime branch in November 2016 based on a complaint from RTI activist Milan Gandhi. Gandhi accused Shyam’s firm of cheating the state government through a bogus ULC (urban land ceiling) certificate related to a 23,340-square metre plot at Bhayandar.
ACC clears appointment of Judicial and Technical Members to NCLAT
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has made key appointments to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), naming two judicial members and two technical members for a tenure of four years or until they reach the age of 67 years. The appointed members are as follows:
Judicial Members:
- Justice Yogesh Khanna – Former judge, High Court of Delhi
- Justice Sharad Kumar Sharma – Former judge, High Court of Uttarakhand
Technical Members:
- Indevar Pandey (IAS:1988:WB) – Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Jatindranath Swain (Retd IAS:1988:TN) – Former Secretary, Department of Fisheries
7 Additional High Court Judges elevated as Permanent Judges
The Union government, on Tuesday, announced the elevation of several Judges from Additional Judges to Permanent Judges in the Calcutta, Kerala, Jharkhand, and Punjab & Haryana High Courts.
In a series of notifications issued on January 30, the government detailed the appointments:
- Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, previously an Additional Judge of the High Court of Jharkhand, has been appointed as a Judge of the same High Court.
- Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen, who served as an Additional Judge of the Kerala High Court, has been elevated to the position of Judge in the Kerala High Court.
- Justice Lapita Banerji, previously an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has been appointed as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This appointment fills a vacancy of a permanent Judge in the Calcutta High Court.
- In Calcutta High Court, Justice Shampa Dutt (Paul), Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay, and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay, who were serving as Additional Judges, have been appointed as Judges.
These appointments follow the recent recommendations by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, and comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice BR Gavai.
Justice Prasanna B Varale appointed SC Judge
The Union government on 24 January approved the appointment of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale of the Karnataka High Court as a Judge of the Supreme Court. This decision swiftly follows the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, on January 19.
The addition of Justice Prasanna B Varale will bring the Supreme Court back to its full strength of 34 judges, filling the lone vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul in December of the previous year.
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