IAS Sakshi Sawhney belongs to the 2014 batch Punjab cadre and is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, Punjab. With this appointment, She made history by becoming the first woman deputy Commissioner of Amritsar.

Her vision for the district focuses on skilling, employment, and livelihood for the youth. “We are working on skilling, employment, and livelihood for the youth and making the best of our demographic dividend, ensuring that every person can live their best life according to their capabilities,” she said.

Under her leadership, the district has launched an initiative called Future Tycoons, designed to provide marginalized groups and individuals with disabilities a platform to pitch their business ideas. Explaining the motivation behind this program, Sawhney said, “These people are talented individuals with brilliant ideas, but they lack access to platforms or mentorship. They aren’t part of business schools or incubators, and this initiative aims to bring them forward.” Citizens are being motivated to come, present their ideas or existing businesses and then receive 15-20 days of mentorship including training on how to make a presentation and how to pitch their ideas effectively. “We have a panel of judges, much like Shark Tank, who evaluate these pitches,” she shared. Recalling a success story, she said “In Patiala, where I implemented this idea earlier, a woman presented her concept of making diabetic-friendly achaar and murabba. Not only did they win the challenge and receive ₹50,000 as the first prize, but they also attracted investors and a network which are going to help them expand and grow.”

The impact of the program extends beyond financial support “A lot of social good comes out of this initiative. We help connect them with possible investors, mentors, and incubators and then the market does its magic. They are able to recognize the talent and merit in their ideas and move forward," she said.

Further enhancing opportunities for growth, Vocational skill certificates and courses on emerging technologies like AI are being introduced “We’ve showcased 3D manufacturing and AI tools to demonstrate how these technologies can add value to existing skills,” she added.

In addition to this for people with disabilities, a collaboration between Punjabi University and special schools enables students to pursue distance education. This initiative allows students with disabilities to study further locally, write exams, earn a degree, and secure jobs. "There are job reservations for people with disabilities, but without degrees, their opportunities are limited," she explained.

Sawhney’s ambitious vision also encompasses tourism and border villages, which often lack access. “we are working to develop facilities within these villages. For instance, two players from the Indian Hockey team who won hail from Amritsar. In their areas, I am establishing hockey nurseries to nurture local talent. “

More than one dozen officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of various cadres and batches are under suspension in the country.

Subodh Kumar Singh has been appointed as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. He is a 1997 batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre.

(We said this on Dec 7, 2023 & Dec 18, 2024)

A total of 129 IPS officers are in positions in Chhattisgarh cadre against a total authorized strength of 142. There is a shortage of 13 IPS officers in the cadre.

Dr N Nandakumar, presently Consul General, Consulate General of India, Shanghai, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Mali. He is a 2007 batch IFS officer.

Alok Ranjan Jha, presently Ambassador of India to Belarus, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Zambia. He is a 2002 batch IFS officer.

Venkat Rao Chavali, ED, BHEL, is in the race for the post of Director (Engineering, Research & Development), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

S Saran CGM, ONGC, is said to be in the race for the post of Chairman-cum-Managing Director, HLL Lifecare.

Inter cadre transfer of Lourembam Nelson Mangangcha from West Bengal to Assam-Meghalaya Cadre has been approved. He is a 2023 batch IAS officer.

Tenure of lateral entry posting of Sagar Rameshrao Kudu as Director, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has been extended up to December 29, 2026.  

The post of Swapnil S Patil as Private Secretary to Kamlesh Paswan, MoS for Rural Development has been upgraded to director level. He is a 2011 batch IRS-IT officer.

The post of Ashish Kumar Saxena has been upgraded as Director in the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). He is a 2011 batch IRSSE officer.

The post of Nitin Jain has been upgraded as Director in the Ministry of Steel. He is a 2011 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

Ms Archana Shukla has been appointed as Joint Director at Deputy Secretary level in the National Testing Agency (NTA). She is a 2013 batch ISS officer.

Amit Kumar has been appointed as Joint Director at Deputy Secretary level in the National Testing Agency (NTA). He is a 2014 batch ISupplyS officer.

Sandip Kumar Mishra has been appointed as Director in the National Testing Agency (NTA). He is a 2007 batch IRS-IT officer.

Ms Shivani has been appointed as Joint Director at Deputy Secretary level in the National Testing Agency (NTA). She is a 2013 batch IRPS officer

Maheshwar Singh, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Northern Railway (NR), has been transferred to the Railway Board, promoted to senior administrative grade, and posted as Inspector General (IG) (Administration), Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPFS) officer.

Ms Priyanka Singh, who is presently posted in North Central Railway (NCR), has been transferred to the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and posted as Joint Director/Signal, RDSO. She is an Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) officer

Jayant Kumar, who is presently serving as Executive Director, Mechanical Engineering (Modernisation & Development), Railway Board, has been assigned additional duties of the post of Executive Director, Mechanical Engineering (Coaching), Railway Board. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Vinod Kumar, Executive Director, Mechanical Engineering (PU&W), Railway Board, has been detailed to look after the duties of the post of Executive Director, Mechanical Engineering (Freight), Railway Board, in addition to his own. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

Bhuvnesh Singh has been transferred from North Central Railway (NCR) to North Eastern Railway (NER) and posted as Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Lucknow (LJN). He is an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer.

LK Dhurandher, who is presently posted in the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR), has been transferred to West Central Railway (WCR) and posted as Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM), Kota. He is an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME) officer.

 Alok Raj, DG-cum-Chairman-cum-MD, Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation, Patna, has been assigned an additional charge of Chairman, Bihar Staff Selection Commission. Besides, Mohammad Sohail will be relieved of the additional charge of this post. He is a 1989 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre.

Dr Rajesh Kumar has been appointed as Principal Secretary, Correctional Administration Department in West Bengal. He is a 1990 batch IPS officer of West  Bengal cadre.

Ms Lavanya Mandayur has been appointed as Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) in Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AICIL). Prior to this, she was serving as General Manager New India Assurance Company Limited (NIACL).

The Oversight Committee (OC) of India Country Coordinating Mechanism (ICCM) has invited applications for various posts.

Six officers have been included in the Grade-I of CSS i.e. Under Secretary of Central Secretariat Service for the year 2024. While Pritam Kumar Bagde, Ram Nagina Prasad and Ishwar Dutt Kashyap have been retained in the present cadre, Bhupendra Kumar has been posted to DIPAM, Vijendra Kumar Meena to Science & Technology and Dinesh Singh was posted to UPSC.

The Department of Atomic Energy has promoted five Security Officers to the grade of Deputy Chief Security Officer. These officers are: Ms Rachna S Paras, Suresh H Deshmukh, Rajesh P Prasad  and Sanjay I Singh and from BARC, Mumbai, and Pradosh C S Security Officer, DAE, Mumbai.

Vinay Singh is being relieved from his duty as Director (Project) Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

Vijay Khatwa has been sent on deputation to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) as Deputy General Manager (DGM)- Train Operation. He is a 2011 batch IRSEE officer.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has selected 20 candidates for the post of Legal Research Consultant on contract basis. The selected candidates include: Samriddhi Chatterjee, Ragini Kanugo, Anadi Tewari, Tarannum Khatana, Vatsal Sharma, Pranjali Gupta, Medha Patil, Srishti Chaturvedi, Nuzhat Nasreen, Samridhi Nema, Anjali Busar, Shravya Arora, Shivani Panwar, Yameena Ahmad, Shivalika Pandey, Manaswini Singh, Wamika Sachdev, Sanjana Narang, Amreen Tapadar and Shivanshi Gupta.

National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), New Delhi on behalf of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is seeking applications for the post of Senior Epidemiologist IDSP (PM-ABHIM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on contractual basis. Applications must reach on or before January 14, 2024.

Sanjay Kumar Varsjney has been posted in the BSNL and will look after the Digital Bharat Nidhi with effect from January 1. He is an ITS officer.

The CBIC has promoted A S Rajeevan and K P Suresh Kumar as Asstt Commissioner on ad-hoc basis w e f October 10, 2023.

Technical resignation tendered by Gaurav Verma, Indian Postal Service (IPoS), Group ‘A’ Probationer of 2022 batch, has been accepted consequent upon his selection in Indian Forest Service through IFoS Examination - 2023.

Major Apoorva, who was on deputation to Press Council of India (PCI), has been repatriated to his parent department.

Justice Madan B Lokur, former Supreme Court Judge, has been appointed Chairperson of United Nations Internal Justice Council (IJC).

Minoru Sugisawa, Whole-Time Director, Jtekt India Limited, has been re-designated as Chairman and Managing Director of the company with effect from January 1, 2025.

Darshil Shah has been appointed as Managing Director of Renaissance Global Limited, effective January 1, 2025.

Chaganti Samba Murty has been appointed as Additional Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of Delphi World Money Limited.

Gautam Kumar Bhakat has been appointed as Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of Rishab Special Yarns Limited.

Ms. Sai Naga Kathyayani Mugata has been appointed as Additional Non-Executive Non-Independent Director of GACM Technologies Limited.

Mugatha Narendra Babu has been appointed as Executive Director of GACM Technologies Limited.

Hitesh Shah, Managing Director, Renaissance Global Limited, has been re-designated as Non-Executive Director of the company, effective January 1, 2025.

Ravi Kumar Agrawal has ceased to be Part-Time Official Director on the board of UCO Bank upon completion of his tenure.

Anjan Talukdar has ceased to be Part-Time Official Director on the board of UCO Bank upon completion of his tenure.

T Sivakumar ceased to be Independent Director of General Insurance Corporation of India upon completion of his tenure.

Surender Kumar Agarwal has ceased to be Part-Time Non-Official Director (Non-Executive Independent) of The New India Assurance Company Limited.

Ratan Kumar Das has ceased to be Part-Time Non-official Director (Non-Executive Independent) of The New India Assurance Company Limited.

UP cadre IAS officer: A life rooted in compassion

Sir, we salute for your humility, compassion and generosity which is becoming rare day by day. You have very well said that humanity is permanent whereas posts and designations fade away. Only personalities like you will be remembered for ever whereas the others with misplaced who and arrogance will be shunned once they demit office or superannuate from service may your tribe increase respected Sir.

Srinivas Rao

Productivity is zero against free ration

When 800 million people get free ration, their productivity is zero and this gap cannot be compensated by any amount of policy framework.

Rajesh Gohel

Investigation conducted following a complaint against the appellant

The appellant submitted that he had been serving as Branch Manager in the Vikas Nagar Branch (PNB) of Nainital for 6 years and a complaint was filed against him concerning a dishonored cheque. He further argued that an investigation was conducted in the complaint and despite being the aggrieved party, copy of the report was not shared with him. The PIO of Punjab National Bank submitted that an investigation was conducted in the complaint as per recommendation of higher authorities. However, the report contained details regarding certain commercial operations carried out by the respondent bank, hence, the report was denied to the appellant as per provisions under Section 8 (1) (d) of the RTI Act. The CIC observed that the information concerns the appellant and non-disclosure of the same would not only adversely affect the rights of the appellant being the aggrieved party, but would also amount to violation of principles of natural justice. While the exemption claimed under Section 8 (1) (d) of the RTI Act may be applicable to certain portions of the report, the PIO is at liberty to redact the said portions as per procedure of severability laid down under Section 10 of the RTI Act. The CIC directed the Bank to re-examine the matter and disclose a redacted copy of the averred report after blackening out details exempted under Section 8 and 9 of the RTI Act, if any, reflecting the broad outcome of the report to the appellant.

Comments

Ther have been many cases where an application has been filed under the RTI Act seeking copy of the investigation report. The application may be filed by the complainant, the accused or a third party and usually the public authority tends to deny the information.

Citation: Yogesh Kumar Goyal v. Punjab National Bank, Second Appeal No. CIC/PNBNK/A/2023/128777; Date of Decision: 06.11.2024

Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

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