The Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday (28.12.2022) appointed Vivek Bhatia (IAS:2011:HP) as Principal Private Secretary-cum-Special Secretary to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Bhatia was currently serving as Director, Department of Empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Minorities and Specially-Abled. Earlier, Bhatia served as Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur and Chamba besides many other prominent posts.
Two other IAS officers were given additional charge. Hemraj Bairwa (IAS:2013:HP), posted as Mission Director, National Health Mission, Himachal Pradesh, shall hold the additional charge of Director, Department of Empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Minorities and Specially Abled.
Kiran Bhadana (IAS:2017:HP), who currently serves as Special Secretary, Multi-Purpose Projects (MPP), Power, NCES and Industries, shall hold the additional charge of the post of Director, Information and Public Relations (IPR).
The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday (28.12.2022) appointed retired IAS officer ICP Kesari (IAS:1988:MP) and Ajay Kumar Pandey as media advisors to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Kesari and Pandey will serve until the end of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s term as chief minister. The appointment of Kesari and Pandey is considered significant in view of next year’s assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. Both of them will be entrusted with the responsibility of media management in the election year. During the previous tenure of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a principal secretary handled this responsibility. So far, no such appointment has been made this time.
The Haryana government on Tuesday appointed former IPS officer Surjeet Singh Deswal (Retd. IAS:1984:HY) as the first vice-chancellor (V-C) of the Sports University at Rai in Sonepat. Deswal, who served as DG ITBP and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), was picked for the V-Cs job under the transitional provisions of the Sports University of Haryana Act.
As per section 42 (a) of the Act, the first vice-chancellor shall be appointed by the state government in such manner and on such conditions, as may be deemed fit and the said officer shall hold office for such term, not exceeding three years, as may be specified by the state government.
The Uttar Pradesh government has appointed former IAS officer T Venkatesh (Retd.IAS:1988:UP) and retired district judge Deepak Swaroop Saxena as new members of Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). Their tenure will be for five years or till age of 65 years.
Both members will be working from RERA’s NCR regional office in Greater Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar. This is because 75 percent of UP RERA complaints are related to districts of NCR that include Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzzafarnagar, etc.
The new appointments to the post have come after members Balvinder Kumar (Retd.IAS:1981:UP) and Bhanu Pratap Singh (Retd. IPS) retired in February and June, respectively, this year.
President Droupadi Murmu said Tuesday that police officers should demonstrate integrity, impartiality, courage, competence, and sensitivity through their actions.
The President told the probationers of the Indian Police Service’s 74th Batch at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad, that when the nation celebrates ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, it acknowledges the vast contribution our police force has made to sustaining and strengthening one of the largest and most vibrant democracies in the world.
Her remarks also pointed out that the Indian police have played a vital role in preserving the unity of the country. “Thousands of brave police personnel have laid down their lives for the cause of India’s internal security.”
President Murmu said that the police is the most visible organ of the government. She said that when the police command the people’s trust, it enhances the image of the government. The police command respect and trust only when the entire force under them, to the last constable, displays alertness, sensitivity, and honesty.
She further stated that IPS probationers would hold leadership positions right from the start of their careers. “The quality of their leadership would determine the effectiveness and morale of the force led by them.”
President added that police forces have to be partners in the progress of the country and the transformation of the society. “Police officers are going to play the roles of change agents in India’s achieving greater prosperity while ensuring sustainable development, especially inclusion. Inclusion means – inclusion of that last person, the most deprived person, the most vulnerable person. That person should be at the centre of their concerns.”
She said that the officers have to be sensitive to the plight of the voiceless. “Police officers have to ensure that an illiterate poor man living in a remote corner of the country, gets sympathetic support at the local police post. The criminals should tremble with fear at the very thought of the police. But, at the same time, the common citizen should look at the police as a friend and saviour.”
President Murmu further said that in line with our stated national priorities, Nari Shakti has to play a major role in achieving the targets we have set for ourselves during the ‘Amrit Kaal’. “A truly ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, pre-supposes ‘Atmanirbhar Nari’. Larger participation of women results in better overall development. We should quickly move ahead from the phase of empowering women to the stage of women-led development.”
She urged lady police officers to always help other women, especially the vulnerable. “If every woman stands up for the weaker ones among them, the society would experience a great transformation.”
Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary RD Dhiman (IAS:1988:HP) is set to become the state’s new Chief Information Commissioner. In this regard, a high-level screening committee chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in Shimla made a decision on Tuesday. In July, Dhiman was appointed Chief Secretary, and he will retire on December 31.
The appointment of Dhiman to the position of chief information commissioner will last for three years. Since Narendra Chauhan’s term expired in June, the post of Chief Information Commissioner has been vacant in the state.
The previous government had invited applications for the same in May to which RD Dhiman, Dr Savita, RN Batta, SR Mardi, JC Sharma and 48 other officers and advocates associated with judicial services had responded.
However, the decision could not be made in the meeting held in June for the appointment.
The Gujarat government Tuesday appointed two retired bureaucrats Hasmukh Adhia (Retd.IAS:1981:GJ) and SS Rathore the Chief Adviser and Adviser to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel respectively.
Adhia retired as Revenue and Finance Secretary in November 2018. In his current role, he serves as the non-executive chairman of Bank of Baroda as well as the chancellor of the Central University of Gujarat. Also, he serves as vice chairman of the boards of Pandit Deendayal Energy University and Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI). He is a member of the board of governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Former secretary of Gujarat’s roads and buildings department, Rathore is a retired bureaucrat from Gujarat Engineering Services (GES). After serving in the Gujarat government’s roads and buildings department, he retired as additional chief secretary in 2014. He also served as managing director and chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL) for five years.
As the pioneer of the Build, Operate, and Transfer model of road development in Gujarat, Rathore was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to the development of infrastructure. He is known as the ‘highway and canal man’. Neither of the two new posts will last beyond the term of the present chief minister.
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