The Uttar Pradesh government has given an important posting to senior IAS of Uttar Pradesh Anil Kumar Sagar (IAS:1998:UP). He has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA). Presently, Sagar concurrently serves as the Principal Secretary of the Industrial Development, IT Electronics, and Overseas Indian Department.
Uncertainty surrounds fate of Railway Board chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti as retirement nears
The current CEO and Chairman of the Railway Board, Anil Kumar Lahoti (IRMS), is set to retire on August 31, 2023. Speculation is abounds regarding whether he will receive an extension or not. Only top political leadership holds the knowledge of Lahoti’s fate, yet the corridors of power are abuzz with conjecture about his future. Presently, two distinct theories concerning his extension are circulating.
One viewpoint suggests that the central government has made a decision to extend his tenure, especially in light of the recent successful event centered around the redevelopment of 508 Amrit Bharat Stations in the initial week of this month. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the redevelopment initiative for these stations, which are part of a larger scheme aimed at revitalizing 1300 prominent railway stations across the nation.
Nevertheless, an opposing perspective on Lahoti’s extension exists. A different group within the insiders’ circle claims that the Balassore Train accident has seemingly hindered his prospects for an extension.
In the context of the present government, the decision for an extension appears to revolve around its usefulness leading up to the 2024 LS Polls. The government has already demonstrated its inclination for extensions by prolonging the tenures of the ED Chief, Union Cabinet Secretary, and Home Secretary.
Vishvas Vidu Sapkal named Ambassador to Bolivia, Sumit Seth to Nicaragua
Vishvas Vidu Sapkal, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 1998 batch, currently serving as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Peru, has been given the additional responsibility of serving as the Ambassador of India to the Plurinational State of Bolivia concurrently. His residence will continue to be in Lima, Peru.
Similarly, Dr. Sumit Seth, an Indian Foreign Service officer from the 2005 batch, who is presently the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Panama, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Nicaragua. His residence will remain in Panama.
These diplomats are expected to take up their new assignments in the respective countries shortly.
MHA imposes five-year debarment on two Haryana cadre IPS officers for central deputation
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instituted a five-year prohibition on two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the Haryana cadre, Abhishek Jorwal (IPS:2011:HY) and Om Prakash (IPS:2006:HY). During this stipulated duration, both officers are restricted from seeking any deputation at the central level.
The communication about this directive was conveyed through an official notice addressed to Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on behalf of the Union Home Ministry. As indicated in the official document from the MHA, Abhishek Jorwal and Om Prakash are also prohibited from undertaking any foreign assignments throughout this period.
The Union Home Ministry had assigned Abhishek Jorwal for a five-year deputation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as a Superintendent of Police (SP) on June 14, 2023. However, this deputation has now been annulled. Similarly, the Union Home Ministry had deployed Om Prakash for a five-year deputation to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) on June 15, 2023. This deputation for Om Prakash has also been revoked.
UP: Nine senior IPS officers shifted, R K Swarnkar is new Kanpur CP
In a significant reconfiguration of the top echelons of police administration, the Uttar Pradesh government has enacted the transfer and placement of nine senior IPS officers within the state.
The officers and their respective appointments are as follows:
- B P Jogdand (IPS:1991:UP), Police Commissioner of Kanpur, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Women and Child Welfare Organisation (1090), Lucknow.
- Rajeev Krishna (IPS:1991:UP), ADGP, Agra Zone, Agra, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Vigilance Establishment, Lucknow.
- Anupam Kulshreshtha (IPS:1995:UP), ADGP, Traffic and Road Safety with additional charge of ADGP, 1090, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Agra Zone. Agra.
- R K Swarnkar (IPS:1996:UP), ADGP, Police Recruitment and Promotion Board, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Police Commissioner of Kanpur.
- Mohit Agrawal (IPS:1997:UP), ADGP, Technical Services, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, ATS, Lucknow.
- Naveen Arora (IPS:1997:UP), ADGP, ATS, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Technical Services, Lucknow.
- B D Paulson (IPS:1998:UP), Secretary, Home, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Traffic and Road Safety, Lucknow.
- Dr. Sanjeev Gupta (IPS:1999:UP), IG, Law & Order, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, Home, Lucknow.
- L R Kumar (IPS:1006:UP), DIG, Vigilance Establishment, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as DIG, Law & Order, Lucknow.
SC allows repatriation of officers to parent cadres associated with Coal Block Scam
The Supreme Court has granted permission, in response to a series of petitions, for officers involved in investigating coal block allocation cases to return to their original cadres. This directive was issued following the submission of a report titled “Note on Administrative Issues” by Praveen Sood, Director of the CBI. The report presented the ongoing status of investigations and prosecutions related to the coal block allocation cases.
The report indicated that only one case remains pending investigation, and it is anticipated to conclude shortly. Previously, the Court had instructed that officers should not be transferred without prior authorization.
The IPS officers impacted by this decision include Vineet Vinayak (IPS:1995:SK), Amit Kumar (IPS:1998:CG), Keshav Chaurasia (IPS:2013:J&K), and Prem Gautam (IPS:2005:UP). Additionally, the decision will have ramifications for two Inspector rank officers, namely J R Katiyar and Rajbir Singh.
In the context of the case, the CBI had highlighted that since the investigative stage had significantly progressed, as evident from the status report, it would be suitable for senior officers and investigating officers to be returned to their original cadres. This move is prompted by their extended tenure of deputation.
Guidebook unveiled by retired Indian Forest Service Officers to counter Forest Rights Act misuse
A group of 40 retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers hailing from various regions across the country unveiled a guidebook they have meticulously crafted. This guidebook serves as a comprehensive tool, aimed at illustrating effective strategies to counteract the misuse of the Forest Rights Act and to ensure the safeguarding of precious forest lands.
The guidebook, titled “Foresters’ Guide on Forest Right Act (RoFR),” was officially launched on August 15 via a video conference, led by BK Singh, a retired principal chief conservator of forests from Karnataka, in collaboration with other retired colleagues. This publication follows a recent letter penned by these retired officials to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The letter raised concerns about irregularities, the misapplication of the FRA, encroachments, and the transfer of extensive tracts of forest land without proper validation and documentation.
BK Singh emphasized that the guide was conceived to aid forest field officers responsible for FRA implementation, thereby ensuring its appropriate execution and preventing its misappropriation by ineligible claimants—particularly those who encroached upon forest land after the stipulated cut-off date of December 13, 2005. The guide delves into the intricacies of FRA implementation, highlighting the role of foresters at the levels of gram panchayats and divisions or districts. Additionally, it sheds light on the Act itself, along with the rules and guidelines issued by the Central government.
Haryana: 8 DCs among 16 IAS shifted
Undergoing a substantial bureaucratic reorganization, the Haryana government has announced the transfer and posting of 16 IAS officers on Friday. As part of this comprehensive overhaul of the state’s administrative framework, eight Deputy Commissioners from various districts have been reassigned, with six districts now having new Deputy Commissioners at their helm.
The names of the officers and their postings are as follows :
- Sanjay Joon (IAS:2003:HY), Secretary, Finance Department, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, Haryana State Federation of Cooperative Sugar Mills, Director General/Secretary, Sainik & Ardh Sainik Welfare Department.
- A Mona Sreenivas (IAS:2006:HY), Additional Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi, has been given additional charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad.
- Rippudaman Singh Dhillon (IAS:2008:HY), Secretary, Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes, has been given additional charge of Director/Secretary, Elementary Education Department and Secretary Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes.
- Ashok Kumar Garg (IAS:2009:HY), Director, Elementary Education, and Special Secretary, School Education Department, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Manesar.
- Jitendra Kumar-I (IAS:2010:HY), Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad, has been transferred and posted as District Municipal Commissioner, Rohtak, and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Rohtak.
- Mahavir Kaushik (IAS:2011:HY), Special Secretary, Home-I Department, has been given additional charge of Special Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department.
- Dr. Priyanka Soni (IAS:2012:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, and Chief Administrator, Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula, has been transferred and posted as Director/Secretary, Medical Education & Research Department.
- Sushil Sarwan (IAS:2012:HY), Director/Special Secretary, Employment Department and Director/Special Secretary, Skill Development & Industrial Training Department, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula and Chief Administrator, Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Panchkula.
- Manoj Kumar-I, (IAS:2012:HY), Managing Director, Haryana State Federation of Cooperative Sugar Mills and Director/Special Secretary, Sainik & Ardh Sainik Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar.
- Mandeep Kaur (IAS:2013:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Charkhi Dadri.
- Manoj Kumar-II (IAS:2014:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Jind, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat.
- Rahul Hooda (IAS:2015:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Rewari.
- Mohd. Imran Raza (IAS:2015:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Rewari, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Jind.
- Prashant Panwar (IAS:2015:HY), Additional Secretary, Fisheries Department; Administrator, HSVP, Rohtak and Additional Director, Urban Estate, Rohtak; Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Rohtak and District Municipal Commissioner, Rohtak, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad.
- Preeti (IAS:2015:HY), Deputy Commissioner, Charkhi Dadri, has been transferred and posted as Administrator, HSVP, Rohtak, and Additional Director, Urban Estate, Rohtak.
- Sahil Gupta (IAS:2017:HY), Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Manesar, has been transferred and posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Citizen Resources Information Officer, Palwal, and District Municipal Commissioner, Palwal.
UP: Naib Tehsildars to attain IAS Rank in state bureaucracy
In a significant development within Uttar Pradesh’s bureaucracy, Naib Tehsildars will now be elevated to the rank of IAS officers, marking a substantial expansion of their roles. Naib Tehsildars, who hold UPPCS (State Civil Service) positions responsible for land revenue collection within a tehsil, will undergo promotion to the esteemed IAS rank. This step is unprecedented in the state’s administrative service.
Traditionally, only SDMs (UPPCS officers) have been promoted to the IAS rank in Uttar Pradesh, with SDMs holding the rank of Deputy Collectors.
However, in a groundbreaking decision by the Uttar Pradesh government, two Naib Tehsildars will experience promotion to IAS rank for the first time in the state’s administrative history. This noteworthy promotion is set to be deliberated upon in an upcoming selection committee meeting scheduled for August 21, which will be attended by representatives from the Union Public Service Commission and the Central Government, visiting Lucknow for the occasion.
A Tehsildar in India is an officer overseeing taxation affairs, accompanied by revenue inspectors, and also serves as the Executive Magistrate of the respective Tehsil, akin to an Additional Deputy Commissioner.
Within the framework of the 2022 selection list, 22 vacancies for IAS appointments from the state quota have been identified. Among these, PCS officers from the 2004 and 2006 batches are expected to receive promotions.
Consequently, in accordance with seniority, officers embroiled in recruitment-related misconduct are likely to be disqualified, while ongoing investigations against five other officers are anticipated to lead to their exclusion.
Currently, a total of 17 officers appear eligible for the IAS cadre. This group encompasses Umakant Tripathi and Narendra Singh, both of whom achieved promotions to the PCS cadre in 2006.
Narendra Singh currently holds the positions of Additional Commissioner of Transport and Chief General Manager at the U.P. State Transport Corporation (UPSRTC). Meanwhile, Umakant Tripathi serves as Additional District Magistrate, overseeing Finance and Revenue in Banda.
The governing principle states that PCS officers below the age of 56, with at least 8 years of service in the cadre, are eligible for consideration for IAS promotion. Both Tripathi and Singh meet these criteria, hence their names have been included in the DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee).
Names Submitted for DPC Consideration:
- Bhishma Lal
- Harish Chandra
- Sriprakash Gupta
- Prabhu Nath
- Anju Katiyar
- Preeti Jaiswal
- Ritu Suhas
- Santosh Kumar Vaish
- Shatrohan Vaish
- Dharmendra Singh
- Anand Kumar Shukla
- Arvind Kumar Mishra
- Vijay Kumar
- Avneesh Saxena
- Keshav Kumar
- Rajesh Kumar
- Vinod Kumar
- Ravindra Kumar
- Himanshu Gautam
- Mukesh Chandra
- Amarpal Singh
- Umakant Tripathi
- Narendra Singh
Three IPS officers transferred from Arunachal Pradesh to Delhi
Three IPS officers from the AGMUT cadre, who were stationed in Arunachal Pradesh, have been relocated to Delhi.
The officers are:
- Sanjay Bhatia (IPS:2010:AGMUT), currently posted in Arunachal Pradesh, has been transferred to Delhi.
- Satya Vir Katara (IPS:2010:AGMUT), currently posted in Arunachal Pradesh, has been transferred to Delhi.
- Dinesh Kumar Gupta (IPS:2010:AGMUT), currently posted in Arunachal Pradesh, has been transferred to Delhi.
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