Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Payment of interest on accounts frozen by banks
RBI/2009-10/119
DBOD.No.Leg.BC.30 /09.07.005/2009-10
August 12, 2009
All Scheduled Commercial Banks
(Excluding RRBs)
Dear Sir,
Payment of interest on accounts frozen by banks
Please refer to paragraph 5.8.9 of our Master Circular DBOD.No.Leg.BC.9/ 09.07.006/ 2009-10 dated July 1, 2009 on Customer Service, wherein banks have been advised to follow the procedure laid down thereunder in respect of Term Deposit Accounts frozen by the enforcement authorities.
2. In terms of paragraph 5.8.9 (i), banks were advised to obtain a request letter from the customer for renewal for a term equal to the original term, on maturity. On a review, it is felt that instead of renewing it for a term equal to the original term, it would be appropriate if the depositor is given the option to choose the term for renewal of the deposit.
3. Banks may, therefore, while obtaining the request letter from the depositor for renewal, also advise him to indicate the term for which the deposit is to be renewed. In case the depositor does not exercise his option of choosing the term for renewal, banks may renew the same for a term equal to the original term.
Yours faithfully
(B.Mahapatra)
Chief General Manager
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Government mulls raising retirement age to 62 yrs
| Aditi Phadnis / New Delhi August 13, 2009, 0:56 IST |
Move aimed at easing strain on finances in a drought year.
The government is actively considering raising the retirement age of all central government employees, including those in the armed forces, from the present 60 to 62 years.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has submitted a report to the prime minister outlining all the pros and cons of the move, including the “cascading effects” on government employment and the huge savings, at least for two years, on account of retirement payouts.
If the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the prime minister find the arguments forwarded by the finance ministry credible and convincing, the announcement may come as early as August 15, as part of Manmohan Singh’s Independence Day speech.
The Cabinet may discuss the matter tomorrow.
Although the finance ministry is making a strong case for the move, the DoPT is taking time to make up its mind, possibly out of consideration for the 1979 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and other central services. Officers of the 1979 batch have been empanelled for promotion to the ranks of additional secretary and secretary but can take up their posts only after the present incumbents retire. If an announcement extending the retirement age comes before November, a batch of empanelled joint secretaries stand to lose their future ranks. In turn, this will also affect those who joined the central administrative services in 1980. The DoPT also says that the age profile of Indian bureaucrats, instead of becoming younger, will become older, out of tune with the rest of the world.
For the finance ministry, the gains from the move are clear. The pension payout of all armed forces personnel of the rank of Lieutenant General and equivalent who were to retire this year will be postponed by 24 months; the government will also defer by two years the liability of paying pension to more than 100,000 employees. While salaries will have to continue to be paid, this will be cheaper than paying upfront benefits like gratuity.
This is all the more important given the government’s other financial liabilities on account of stimulus spending and one drought, though the effects of the latter will kick in only in the next fiscal year. The fiscal deficit is 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product this year and a two-year lag in paying pensions will help in bridging this.
In 1998, the National Democratic Alliance government had raised the retirement age from 58 to 60, a move that benefitted 90,000 government servants and 50,000 defence personnel. At the time, the logic was: the retirement of 140,000 employees would have cost Rs 5,200 crore whereas paying salaries cost only Rs 1,493 crore.
That move came in the wake of the 5th Pay Commission report which had just been implemented by the then United Front government. In 2003, the government also right-sized the central government employee workforce by 30 per cent.
Every time the Centre announces an increase or concession on pay packages, both public-sector units and state governments follow suit. If the prime minister does decide to raise the retirement age, state governments and Public Sector Units (PSUs) will mirror this action. This has its own implications for many cash-strapped states like Punjab.
If the decision is finally taken, it will only be the third time the government will have raised the retirement age. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first prime minister to have increased the age of superannuation from 55 to 58 following the 1962 war with China. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government did it a second time in 1998.
Courtesy: Business Standard
New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) The Central Administrative Tribunal has held that only a medical expert, not a departmental authority, is "competent" to certify if treatment administered on a government employee is an emergency case deserving medical reimbursement.
"Medical reimbursement cannot be claimed as a right in the context of financial burden on the government but when a laid down policy is there... then the authority, which is competent to certify an emergency, cannot be a departmental authority," the tribunal comprising members Shanker Raju and Veena Chhotray said.
"It is only an expert in the field, which is competent and has jurisdiction to certify whether the treatment incurred was in a state of emergency or not," the CAT said.
"Medical reimbursement cannot be claimed as a right in the context of financial burden on the government but when a laid down policy is there... then the authority, which is competent to certify an emergency, cannot be a departmental authority," the tribunal comprising members Shanker Raju and Veena Chhotray said.
"It is only an expert in the field, which is competent and has jurisdiction to certify whether the treatment incurred was in a state of emergency or not," the CAT said.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
CSIR - LEADERSHIP FOR INNOVATION AND FUTURE FRAMEWORK (CLIFF)
VISION :
An apolitical structure to act as a think-tank to delib
erate on new perspectives
on S&T policy, new initiatives and roadmaps
MISSION
1. RESPONSIVENESS- Anticipate, adapt to and address the changing needs
of the nation
2. ENTERPRISE- Evolve and strengthen CSIR
3. INNOVATION- Seek continual improvement in science, technology,
management, business and administration
4. EFFICACY- Ensure CSIR’S Viability in globally competitive environments
Saturday, August 8, 2009
No proposal to withhold DA: NER
LUCKNOW: The North Eastern Railway has refuted the news published in a section of the media that there is a proposal before the ministry of railways to stop payment of dearness allowance (DA), bonus and allowances payable to the railway employees.
Terming the news item as false and baseless, the NER release stated that there is no proposal before the ministry to withhold 60 per cent arrears of the sixth pay commission and the second instalment of bonus and DA payable to the railway employees. The payment would be made in time and the railway employees and their unions should not have any doubt or apprehensions in this regard, the release added.
Terming the news item as false and baseless, the NER release stated that there is no proposal before the ministry to withhold 60 per cent arrears of the sixth pay commission and the second instalment of bonus and DA payable to the railway employees. The payment would be made in time and the railway employees and their unions should not have any doubt or apprehensions in this regard, the release added.
Courtesy: ToI
Press Note - Subject- Electronic Voting Machines- regarding
The Election Commission had, in an extraordinary measure, invited those who have recently expressed reservations about the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) to come and demonstrate the points made in their allegations from 3rd to 8th August 2009. Those invited included political parties, petitioners before various courts and some individuals who had been writing to the Commission on this issue. One hundred EVM samples were obtained on random basis from ten states namely, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. These were kept at the Commission’s office in readiness for scrutiny and for any application to establish its alleged fallibility. The EVMs were offered for such demonstration in the presence of a technical experts group as well as engineers representing the EVM manufacturers, BEL and ECIL. These engineers were especially called from Hyderabad and Bangalore and stationed in ECI’s office for a whole week for this specific purpose. The outcome of this exercise is that none of the persons, who were given the opportunity, could actually demonstrate any tamperability of the ECI-EVM, in any of the hundred machines put on display. They either failed or chose not to demonstrate.
The Election Commission would like to underline that it always had a firm conviction and complete satisfaction that EVMs could not be tampered with. Its faith on the machine has never wavered through the conduct of elections in the last many years including the nation-wide general elections in 2004 and 2009 and over 30 general elections to state assemblies during the last five years. In the past, no one has been able to actually demonstrate that EVMs used by the Election Commission can be tampered with or manipulated. What has been demonstrated or claimed to have been demonstrated is on a privately assembled “look-alike of ECI-EVMs” and not the actual ECI-EVM. However, the aforesaid extraordinary measure was undertaken by the Election Commission in fulfillment of its responsibility not to allow even a small shade of doubt about any aspect of its operation and in order to set at rest any misgiving anywhere. Today, the Commission once again completely reaffirms its faith in the infallibility of the EVMs. These are fully tamper-proof, as ever.
Dr. Kirit Somaiya, Vice-President, BJP, Maharashtra, accompanied by some others, visited the Commission on 7 August 2009 responding to the Commission’s invitation. He categorically stated that he was not opposed to the use of EVMs and he had never wanted to do any demonstration about the tamperability of EVMs. He however made certain suggestions for consideration of the Commission in line with his earlier correspondence with ECI. Ms. Veena Singh, a candidate in recent Parliamentary election in Madhya Pradesh also visited the Commission and made certain general points regarding physical handling of EVMs. It was explained to her that there are sufficient safeguards to take care of such problems. Shri Satinath Chaudhury, a petitioner in the Supreme Court in 2004 on the EVM issue, came on 8th August 2009 and after making some attempts, failed to demonstrate that the EVM could be tampered with.
Shri Omesh Saigal, who visited the Commission on the same day, accompanied by some others, refused to demonstrate the points earlier raised by him, using any of the 100 actual ECI-EVMs, he was offered to choose from. In a letter, addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner and handed over to EC officials, he in turn wanted certain arrangements for him and his team of hardware and software professionals from a private company before coming to demonstrate about the tamperability of the EVM. He also offered to show what he claimed as possibility of tampering using his personal computer and a ‘look alike’ of the ECI-EVM, that was privately manufactured, and is also seen on several TV channels. It was pointed out to Shri Saigal that the ECI-EVM was not at all comparable with what he had brought. Based on this, the EC officials declined to deal with, what appeared to be an imitation machine, so as to avoid creating any confusion in public mind. Shri Saigal made also a request to the Commission to consider pre-poll audit of the EVMs.
The Supreme Court of India, while disposing of a petition filed by Shri V. V. Rao and three others belonging to the Jan Chaitanya Vedika, raising questions about use of Electronic Voting Machines in the elections, on 27 July 2009 observed that the petitioners could approach the Election Commission in the matter. Similar petitions were filed before three High Courts in the country. These are the Madras High Court, the Bombay High Court and the High Court of Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur bench). These petitions also raise allegations about the possibility of tampering with the EVMs. The Mumbai High Court has since dismissed the petition asking the petitioner to approach the Election Commission. The Election Commission has invited all these petitioners to come and demonstrate their points before the Commission. But none of them turned up for making a demonstration from 3rd August 2009 to 8th August 2009.
EVMs have served the country’s elections well. These were introduced after long ranging political, technical and administrative consultations since 1979. The use of machines has helped prevent several electoral malpractices and resulted in more efficient conduct of elections. Judgments from various courts have upheld the use of EVMs and technical experts have endorsed the machines from time to time. In fact, the Karnataka High Court has hailed the EVM as ‘a national pride’. Similarly, the Madras High Court, after elaborate consideration of the issue in a batch of petitions in 2001, rejected allegations that the EVMs could be tampered. The issues recently raised by petitioners in the Courts and by some others, broadly allege the possibility of tampering with the machine during the manufacturing process or while operating the machine. The following facts about ECI-EVMs conclusively rule out any such possibility.
Facts about EVMs used by ECI
i. ECI-EVMs are manufactured only by Electronics Corporation of India Limited (Department of Atomic Energy) and Bharat Electronics Limited (Ministry of Defence), both Central Public Sector Undertakings, which are entrusted with development of very high security product/equipment development.
ii. The ECI-EVMs cannot be reprogrammed.
iii. The software for this chip is developed in-house by a select group of engineers in the two PSUs independently from each other. A select software development group of 2-3 engineers designs the source code and this work is not sub-contracted.
iv. The source code is so designed that it allows a voter to cast the vote only once. The next vote can be recorded only after the Presiding Officer enables the ballot on the Control Unit. In between the machine becomes dead to any signal from outside (except from the Control Unit).
v. After completion of software design, testing and evaluation of the software is carried out by an independent testing group as per the software requirements specifications (SRS). This ensures that the software has really been written as per the requirements laid down for its intended use only.
vi. After successful completion of such evaluation, machine code of the source programme code known as hex-code (not the source code itself) is given to the micro controller manufacturer for fusing in the micro controllers. From this machine code, the source code cannot be read. Source code is never handed over to anyone outside the software group.
vii. Micro controller manufacturer initially provides engineering samples for evaluation. These samples are assembled into the EVM, evaluated and verified for functionality at great length. Bulk production clearance is given to micro controller manufacturer only after successful completion of this verification.
viii. The source code for the EVM is stored under controlled conditions at all times. Checks and balances are in place to ensure that it is accessible to authorized personnel only.
ix. During production, functional testing is done by production group as per the laid down quality plan and performance test procedures.
x. Samples of EVMs from production batches are regularly checked for functionality by Quality Assurance Group, which is an independent group within the organizations.
xi. Certain additional features were introduced in 2006 in ECI-EVMs such as dynamic coding between Ballot Unit and Control Unit, installation of real time clock, installation of full display system and date and time stamping of every key pressing in EVM. It is important to note that there was no modification of any type done at this stage in the basic functions of the machine.
Not comparable with EVMs Abroad
The Commission has come across some comparisons between ECI-EVM and EVMs used by foreign countries. Such comparisons are both misplaced and misguided. Most of the systems used in other countries are PC based and running on operating Systems. Hence, these could be vulnerable to hacking. The EVM in India on the other hand is a fully standalone machine without being part of any network and with no provision for any input. As already stated, the software in the EVM chip is one time programmable and is burnt into the chip at the time of manufacture. Nothing can be written on the chip after manufacture. Thus the ECI-EVMs are fundamentally different from the voting machines and processes adopted in various foreign countries. Any surmise based on foreign studies or operating system based EVMs used elsewhere would be completely erroneous. The ECI-EVMs cannot be compared with those EVMs.
Complete Procedural Security
The Commission has in place elaborate administrative measures and procedural checks-and-balances aimed at prevention of any possible misuse or procedural lapses. These measures include rigorous pre-election test and inspection of each EVM by the technicians, two level randomization with the involvement of candidates and their agents, for the random allotment of the EVMs to various constituencies and their subsequent dispatch to various polling stations. Preparation of the EVMs for elections is done in the presence of the candidates/their agents and sealing of the prepared EVMs is also done in candidate’s or their agent’s presence. Thread seal are fixed on the EVM where again, the candidates or their representatives put their own signature and seals. Paper seals guards against any unauthorized access to the EVMs after preparation. EVMs are then kept in sealed strong rooms with provision for the candidates to put their individual seals on the strong rooms. The EVMs are randomized twice over. The list of EVMs going to individual polling stations is given to the candidates for them to check, on the poll day the actual machine, that is used in that polling station. Furthermore a mock poll is conducted in the presence of polling agents, when the polling agents can verify, inter-alia, the EVM numbers. A mock poll certificate is taken before the commencement of poll. After the mock poll the machine is set back to zero and green paper seal printed at Government Security Press is put in, where once again every polling agent is allowed to put his/her signature. After the polls, the EVM are also sealed in such a manner that there is no physical access to any of the buttons on the EVMs. Indeed there is no access to the EVMs itself since the carrying case is sealed completely. The machines are put in the strong room again in presence of the candidates, observer of the commission under video camera surveillance. The strong room is allowed to be guarded by the supporters of the candidates besides the police protection provided to strong rooms. At every step, the EVM is very well protected and elaborate arrangements are in place for the same.
Election Commission of India
8th August , 2009,New Delhi
The Election Commission would like to underline that it always had a firm conviction and complete satisfaction that EVMs could not be tampered with. Its faith on the machine has never wavered through the conduct of elections in the last many years including the nation-wide general elections in 2004 and 2009 and over 30 general elections to state assemblies during the last five years. In the past, no one has been able to actually demonstrate that EVMs used by the Election Commission can be tampered with or manipulated. What has been demonstrated or claimed to have been demonstrated is on a privately assembled “look-alike of ECI-EVMs” and not the actual ECI-EVM. However, the aforesaid extraordinary measure was undertaken by the Election Commission in fulfillment of its responsibility not to allow even a small shade of doubt about any aspect of its operation and in order to set at rest any misgiving anywhere. Today, the Commission once again completely reaffirms its faith in the infallibility of the EVMs. These are fully tamper-proof, as ever.
Dr. Kirit Somaiya, Vice-President, BJP, Maharashtra, accompanied by some others, visited the Commission on 7 August 2009 responding to the Commission’s invitation. He categorically stated that he was not opposed to the use of EVMs and he had never wanted to do any demonstration about the tamperability of EVMs. He however made certain suggestions for consideration of the Commission in line with his earlier correspondence with ECI. Ms. Veena Singh, a candidate in recent Parliamentary election in Madhya Pradesh also visited the Commission and made certain general points regarding physical handling of EVMs. It was explained to her that there are sufficient safeguards to take care of such problems. Shri Satinath Chaudhury, a petitioner in the Supreme Court in 2004 on the EVM issue, came on 8th August 2009 and after making some attempts, failed to demonstrate that the EVM could be tampered with.
Shri Omesh Saigal, who visited the Commission on the same day, accompanied by some others, refused to demonstrate the points earlier raised by him, using any of the 100 actual ECI-EVMs, he was offered to choose from. In a letter, addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner and handed over to EC officials, he in turn wanted certain arrangements for him and his team of hardware and software professionals from a private company before coming to demonstrate about the tamperability of the EVM. He also offered to show what he claimed as possibility of tampering using his personal computer and a ‘look alike’ of the ECI-EVM, that was privately manufactured, and is also seen on several TV channels. It was pointed out to Shri Saigal that the ECI-EVM was not at all comparable with what he had brought. Based on this, the EC officials declined to deal with, what appeared to be an imitation machine, so as to avoid creating any confusion in public mind. Shri Saigal made also a request to the Commission to consider pre-poll audit of the EVMs.
The Supreme Court of India, while disposing of a petition filed by Shri V. V. Rao and three others belonging to the Jan Chaitanya Vedika, raising questions about use of Electronic Voting Machines in the elections, on 27 July 2009 observed that the petitioners could approach the Election Commission in the matter. Similar petitions were filed before three High Courts in the country. These are the Madras High Court, the Bombay High Court and the High Court of Madhya Pradesh (Jabalpur bench). These petitions also raise allegations about the possibility of tampering with the EVMs. The Mumbai High Court has since dismissed the petition asking the petitioner to approach the Election Commission. The Election Commission has invited all these petitioners to come and demonstrate their points before the Commission. But none of them turned up for making a demonstration from 3rd August 2009 to 8th August 2009.
EVMs have served the country’s elections well. These were introduced after long ranging political, technical and administrative consultations since 1979. The use of machines has helped prevent several electoral malpractices and resulted in more efficient conduct of elections. Judgments from various courts have upheld the use of EVMs and technical experts have endorsed the machines from time to time. In fact, the Karnataka High Court has hailed the EVM as ‘a national pride’. Similarly, the Madras High Court, after elaborate consideration of the issue in a batch of petitions in 2001, rejected allegations that the EVMs could be tampered. The issues recently raised by petitioners in the Courts and by some others, broadly allege the possibility of tampering with the machine during the manufacturing process or while operating the machine. The following facts about ECI-EVMs conclusively rule out any such possibility.
Facts about EVMs used by ECI
i. ECI-EVMs are manufactured only by Electronics Corporation of India Limited (Department of Atomic Energy) and Bharat Electronics Limited (Ministry of Defence), both Central Public Sector Undertakings, which are entrusted with development of very high security product/equipment development.
ii. The ECI-EVMs cannot be reprogrammed.
iii. The software for this chip is developed in-house by a select group of engineers in the two PSUs independently from each other. A select software development group of 2-3 engineers designs the source code and this work is not sub-contracted.
iv. The source code is so designed that it allows a voter to cast the vote only once. The next vote can be recorded only after the Presiding Officer enables the ballot on the Control Unit. In between the machine becomes dead to any signal from outside (except from the Control Unit).
v. After completion of software design, testing and evaluation of the software is carried out by an independent testing group as per the software requirements specifications (SRS). This ensures that the software has really been written as per the requirements laid down for its intended use only.
vi. After successful completion of such evaluation, machine code of the source programme code known as hex-code (not the source code itself) is given to the micro controller manufacturer for fusing in the micro controllers. From this machine code, the source code cannot be read. Source code is never handed over to anyone outside the software group.
vii. Micro controller manufacturer initially provides engineering samples for evaluation. These samples are assembled into the EVM, evaluated and verified for functionality at great length. Bulk production clearance is given to micro controller manufacturer only after successful completion of this verification.
viii. The source code for the EVM is stored under controlled conditions at all times. Checks and balances are in place to ensure that it is accessible to authorized personnel only.
ix. During production, functional testing is done by production group as per the laid down quality plan and performance test procedures.
x. Samples of EVMs from production batches are regularly checked for functionality by Quality Assurance Group, which is an independent group within the organizations.
xi. Certain additional features were introduced in 2006 in ECI-EVMs such as dynamic coding between Ballot Unit and Control Unit, installation of real time clock, installation of full display system and date and time stamping of every key pressing in EVM. It is important to note that there was no modification of any type done at this stage in the basic functions of the machine.
Not comparable with EVMs Abroad
The Commission has come across some comparisons between ECI-EVM and EVMs used by foreign countries. Such comparisons are both misplaced and misguided. Most of the systems used in other countries are PC based and running on operating Systems. Hence, these could be vulnerable to hacking. The EVM in India on the other hand is a fully standalone machine without being part of any network and with no provision for any input. As already stated, the software in the EVM chip is one time programmable and is burnt into the chip at the time of manufacture. Nothing can be written on the chip after manufacture. Thus the ECI-EVMs are fundamentally different from the voting machines and processes adopted in various foreign countries. Any surmise based on foreign studies or operating system based EVMs used elsewhere would be completely erroneous. The ECI-EVMs cannot be compared with those EVMs.
Complete Procedural Security
The Commission has in place elaborate administrative measures and procedural checks-and-balances aimed at prevention of any possible misuse or procedural lapses. These measures include rigorous pre-election test and inspection of each EVM by the technicians, two level randomization with the involvement of candidates and their agents, for the random allotment of the EVMs to various constituencies and their subsequent dispatch to various polling stations. Preparation of the EVMs for elections is done in the presence of the candidates/their agents and sealing of the prepared EVMs is also done in candidate’s or their agent’s presence. Thread seal are fixed on the EVM where again, the candidates or their representatives put their own signature and seals. Paper seals guards against any unauthorized access to the EVMs after preparation. EVMs are then kept in sealed strong rooms with provision for the candidates to put their individual seals on the strong rooms. The EVMs are randomized twice over. The list of EVMs going to individual polling stations is given to the candidates for them to check, on the poll day the actual machine, that is used in that polling station. Furthermore a mock poll is conducted in the presence of polling agents, when the polling agents can verify, inter-alia, the EVM numbers. A mock poll certificate is taken before the commencement of poll. After the mock poll the machine is set back to zero and green paper seal printed at Government Security Press is put in, where once again every polling agent is allowed to put his/her signature. After the polls, the EVM are also sealed in such a manner that there is no physical access to any of the buttons on the EVMs. Indeed there is no access to the EVMs itself since the carrying case is sealed completely. The machines are put in the strong room again in presence of the candidates, observer of the commission under video camera surveillance. The strong room is allowed to be guarded by the supporters of the candidates besides the police protection provided to strong rooms. At every step, the EVM is very well protected and elaborate arrangements are in place for the same.
Election Commission of India
8th August , 2009,New Delhi
Friday, August 7, 2009
Secure Online Shopping
To make online payments safer, the Reserve Bank of India has made it mandatory, for all online transactions to have an additional level of authentication from August 1, 2009 onwards. For Visa credit/debit cards, the additional level of security is the Verified by Visa password that you will have to enter after providing your credit/debit card details while making online bill payments through Visa Bill Pay.
You need to register with your issuing bank to obtain the Verified By Visa password. If you are not registered with your issuing bank, then your Visa card may be declined while making a payment through Visa Bill Pay, from August 1, 2009
What is "Verified by VISA" password?
Verified by Visa is a service that will let you create/use a personal password with your credit/debit card, giving you added assurance that only you can use your card to make purchases over the Internet
You need to register with your issuing bank to obtain the Verified By Visa password. If you are not registered with your issuing bank, then your Visa card may be declined while making a payment through Visa Bill Pay, from August 1, 2009
What is "Verified by VISA" password?
Verified by Visa is a service that will let you create/use a personal password with your credit/debit card, giving you added assurance that only you can use your card to make purchases over the Internet
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Thursday, August 6, 2009
CAT: cash rewards for IT officers unconstitutional : J. Venkatesan
NEW DELHI: The cash reward scheme for officers of the Investigating Wing of the Income Tax Department is bad in law and ultra vires the Constitution, the Kolkata Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has held.
A Bench consisting of K.V. Sachidanandan, Vice-Chairman, and Champak Chatterjee, Administrative Member, quashed the scheme introduced by a Central Board of Direct Taxes Circular, dated November 6, 1985, to the officers per case of detection of tax evasion.
The Tribunal said: “Tax evasion is not a new phenomenon, and the propensity to evade payment or under-payment of tax is common all over the world. It has existed since the taxing system was introduced in our country long long ago. For detection of any unaccounted money which is commonly known as ‘black money,’ the Income Tax Department is equipped with competent officers, who undertake search and seizure operations either on their own initiative or on receipt of information or tip-offs from informers or sources.”
The Bench said: “Such government officials are performing their official duties, for which they are paid an appropriate pay and allowances as prescribed under the rules, and such duties are also conditions of their service. In such circumstances, payment of reward per case of detection of unlawful evasion of tax is wholly unwarranted and uncalled for.
“Payment of reward to outsiders who act as a source or informer can be understood, as they stand on a different pedestal, but it is not understood why payment of reward/commission is to be made to the government officials over and above their monthly salary for performing their prescribed statutory duties? That too without liability to pay income tax, though it is their income. Why this benevolence?”
In the instant case, Samir K. Ghosh, who retired as Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Kolkata, claimed Rs.7,46,320 as a cash reward during 1992-96 with respect to six cases, as against Rs. 2,80,244 paid to him.
The Tribunal rejected the plea, saying it would be open to the government if it so desired to explore an alternative means of recognising commendable work done by officials.
Courtesy: The Hindu
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Kashmiri scientist named for CSIR award
Srinagar: A young scientist from central Kashmir district of Budgam has been nominated for CSIR Young Scientists award 2009.
Working with Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine Jammu, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Malik of Soibugh Budgam is the first Kashmiri to get the award in the field of Biological cancer Research. There were 39 scientists from different states in the fray. The prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will give the award to Dr. Malik at a function to be held in New Delhi on September 26. Dr. Malik received the communication to this effect from Prof. Samir-K-Brahmachari Director General CSIR.
Courtesy: Kashmir watch.com
Working with Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine Jammu, Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Malik of Soibugh Budgam is the first Kashmiri to get the award in the field of Biological cancer Research. There were 39 scientists from different states in the fray. The prime minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will give the award to Dr. Malik at a function to be held in New Delhi on September 26. Dr. Malik received the communication to this effect from Prof. Samir-K-Brahmachari Director General CSIR.
Courtesy: Kashmir watch.com
CSIR on the web
http://csirindia.wordpress.com/
Monday, August 3, 2009
DoPT initiatives to strengthen RTI Act
Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has initiated action on a proposal to review the Second Schedule to the RTI Act, 2005 which contains the names of security and intelligence organizations exempt from its purview, with a view to strengthen the RTI Act. It is being examined whether some of the organizations could be deleted from the Schedule. Another proposal under examination of the Department is to add some more categories of information to the list given in section 4 (1) of the Act which all public authorities are required to publish suo motu. This will enable greater proactive disclosures by public authorities.
The law officers of the Government pointed out that there is no provision in the RTI Act enabling the Commission to decide the cases through Benches. So as to ensure that nothing legally wrong is done, the Government advised the Information Commission that decisions on the appeals/complaints should be taken by the Commission and not by the Benches of the Commission. Some parties, without understanding the intricacies of law, have been trying to create an impression that Government is trying to limit the powers of the Commission, which is far from the truth. The only concern of the Government in the matter is that nothing illegal should be done. However, the Government is considering suitable amendments in the Act in order to enable the Commissions to function through Benches.
The Government of India has launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in October, 2008 which aims at strengthening of the State Information Commissions by providing funds for their IT enablement and propagation of RTI. Funds have already been released to 19 State Information Commissions so far. The scheme also proposes to impart training to various stake-holders through the Administrative Training Institutes and to create awareness through the Department of Posts, the Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity (DAVP) and the NCERT.
83,000 stakeholders have already been trained under the UNDP funded ‘Capacity Building for Access to Information Programme’ launched in 2005. With the purpose of understanding the weaknesses and strengths of the system of implementing the provisions of the RTI Act, the Government had a study done through an independent private organization. The study recommended measures for enhancing accountability and clarity of role of various stake holders; improving RTI awareness; improving convenience in filing requests; enhancing infrastructure and capacity building; improving efficiency at Information Commissions; institutionalising Third Party audit. Government has already acted upon some of the recommendations made by the study.
The enactment of the Right to Information Act, 2005 is a momentous step towards transparency in the functioning of the Government and the Government is committed to make it a success and strengthen it further. The Department of Personnel & Training has recently clarified through an Office Memorandum that file notings are to be disclosed. The address of the President to the Joint session of the Parliament reiterates the commitment of the Government to initiate action within 100 days for strengthening the right to information by suitably amending the law.
Courtesy : PIB
The law officers of the Government pointed out that there is no provision in the RTI Act enabling the Commission to decide the cases through Benches. So as to ensure that nothing legally wrong is done, the Government advised the Information Commission that decisions on the appeals/complaints should be taken by the Commission and not by the Benches of the Commission. Some parties, without understanding the intricacies of law, have been trying to create an impression that Government is trying to limit the powers of the Commission, which is far from the truth. The only concern of the Government in the matter is that nothing illegal should be done. However, the Government is considering suitable amendments in the Act in order to enable the Commissions to function through Benches.
The Government of India has launched a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in October, 2008 which aims at strengthening of the State Information Commissions by providing funds for their IT enablement and propagation of RTI. Funds have already been released to 19 State Information Commissions so far. The scheme also proposes to impart training to various stake-holders through the Administrative Training Institutes and to create awareness through the Department of Posts, the Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity (DAVP) and the NCERT.
83,000 stakeholders have already been trained under the UNDP funded ‘Capacity Building for Access to Information Programme’ launched in 2005. With the purpose of understanding the weaknesses and strengths of the system of implementing the provisions of the RTI Act, the Government had a study done through an independent private organization. The study recommended measures for enhancing accountability and clarity of role of various stake holders; improving RTI awareness; improving convenience in filing requests; enhancing infrastructure and capacity building; improving efficiency at Information Commissions; institutionalising Third Party audit. Government has already acted upon some of the recommendations made by the study.
The enactment of the Right to Information Act, 2005 is a momentous step towards transparency in the functioning of the Government and the Government is committed to make it a success and strengthen it further. The Department of Personnel & Training has recently clarified through an Office Memorandum that file notings are to be disclosed. The address of the President to the Joint session of the Parliament reiterates the commitment of the Government to initiate action within 100 days for strengthening the right to information by suitably amending the law.
Courtesy : PIB
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Science & Technology transforming Indian Economy
The Indian economy has undergone a structural change over the last decade, with shares of agriculture, manufacturing and services in the gross domestic product (GDP) changing from 28.52%, 24.37% and 47.11% respectively in 1997-98 to 20.83%, 26.78% and 52.39% respectively in 2007-08. The share of merchandise trade in GDP increased from 20.28% to 38.61% over the same period and India’s share in world exports increased from 0.5% in 1990 to 1.1% in 2006.
Science and Technology has played an important role in bringing about this transformation in Indian economy, which is showing a shift from a predominantly agriculture based economy to manufacturing and services based economy and is now increasingly integrating with the world economy to become globally competitive, as demonstrated by its increasing share in world exports. Government S&T departments and agencies have undertaken or promoted research and development to provide innovative and contemporary technologies to industry and India’s recent growth has been driven by rapid expansion in export-oriented, skill intensive manufacturing and, especially, skill intensive services. India is increasingly becoming a top global innovation player in bio-technology, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and assembly, information technology (IT), software and IT-enabled services (ITES) and has already become the world’s fourth-largest economy on purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.
Eleventh Five Year Plan approach to S&T has emphasized the following:
• Setting up a national-level mechanism for evolving policies and providing direction to basic research;
• Enlarging the pool of scientific manpower, strengthening the S&T infrastructure and attracting & retaining young people to careers in science;
• Implementing selected National Flagship Programmes which have direct bearing on the technological competitiveness of the country in a mission mode;
• Establishing globally competitive research facilities and centres of excellence;
• Kindling an innovative spirit among scientists to translate R&D leads into scalable technologies;
• Developing new models of public private partnerships (PPPs) in higher education, particularly for research in universities and high technology areas;
• Identifying ways and means of catalyzing industry-academia collaborations; and
• Promoting strong linkages with advanced countries, including participation in mega international science initiatives.
The Eleventh Plan Outlay for S&T sector comprising of Department of Science and Technology, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and Department of Biotechnology the three Departments under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Departments of Space and Atomic Energy has been raised to Rs.75,304 crore, which is approximately three times the Tenth Plan Outlay.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences (Independent charges), PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question by Smt. T. Ratna Bai in the Rajya Sabha today.
Science and Technology has played an important role in bringing about this transformation in Indian economy, which is showing a shift from a predominantly agriculture based economy to manufacturing and services based economy and is now increasingly integrating with the world economy to become globally competitive, as demonstrated by its increasing share in world exports. Government S&T departments and agencies have undertaken or promoted research and development to provide innovative and contemporary technologies to industry and India’s recent growth has been driven by rapid expansion in export-oriented, skill intensive manufacturing and, especially, skill intensive services. India is increasingly becoming a top global innovation player in bio-technology, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts and assembly, information technology (IT), software and IT-enabled services (ITES) and has already become the world’s fourth-largest economy on purchasing power parity (PPP) basis.
Eleventh Five Year Plan approach to S&T has emphasized the following:
• Setting up a national-level mechanism for evolving policies and providing direction to basic research;
• Enlarging the pool of scientific manpower, strengthening the S&T infrastructure and attracting & retaining young people to careers in science;
• Implementing selected National Flagship Programmes which have direct bearing on the technological competitiveness of the country in a mission mode;
• Establishing globally competitive research facilities and centres of excellence;
• Kindling an innovative spirit among scientists to translate R&D leads into scalable technologies;
• Developing new models of public private partnerships (PPPs) in higher education, particularly for research in universities and high technology areas;
• Identifying ways and means of catalyzing industry-academia collaborations; and
• Promoting strong linkages with advanced countries, including participation in mega international science initiatives.
The Eleventh Plan Outlay for S&T sector comprising of Department of Science and Technology, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and Department of Biotechnology the three Departments under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Departments of Space and Atomic Energy has been raised to Rs.75,304 crore, which is approximately three times the Tenth Plan Outlay.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences (Independent charges), PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Prithviraj Chavan in a written reply to a question by Smt. T. Ratna Bai in the Rajya Sabha today.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Pensionary benefits only after 20 years of service: CAT
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) Government employees can claim pension only if they have completed a minimum of 20 years of service, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has held.
"The applicant, Mukesh, cannot claim pension, only for the reason that he had opted for the VRS. Qualifying service is essential for a government servant to claim pension as there is no relaxation permissible," the CAT, headed by Vice Chairman M Ramachandran, said.
The Tribunal passed the order on a plea of a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) employee who alleged that he had not been given the pensionary benefits after he opted for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and sought directions for relief.
The CAT noted that the pension scheme was there as per the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules and minimum incumbency of 20 years of service was required for a person to claim pension as a matter of right.
"The applicant, Mukesh, cannot claim pension, only for the reason that he had opted for the VRS. Qualifying service is essential for a government servant to claim pension as there is no relaxation permissible," the CAT, headed by Vice Chairman M Ramachandran, said.
The Tribunal passed the order on a plea of a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) employee who alleged that he had not been given the pensionary benefits after he opted for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and sought directions for relief.
The CAT noted that the pension scheme was there as per the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules and minimum incumbency of 20 years of service was required for a person to claim pension as a matter of right.
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