JS level officer wanted for replacing 1989 batch IAS Anil Verma in Indian High Commission London

THE government has advertised for the post of minister (economic), High Commission of India in London looking for a joint secretary level officer after it decided to recall 1989 batch West Bengal cadre IAS Anil Verma who caused embarrassment for New Delhi when he reportedly assaulted his wife in London. London police wanted India to waive off Verma’s diplomatic immunity so as to try him under UK laws after his wife Paromita Verma formally lodged a complaint against him before going into hiding in UK.

According to a circular issued by department of personnel and training (DoPT) on February 9, the government wanted to appoint an officer who must have been empanelled to hold joint secretary or equivalent posts at the Centre, but must not be senior enough to be empanelled as additional secretary in next three years. Also, the new minister (economic) should have experiences of working in an economic ministry.

The other mandatory qualifications include at least two years at the Centre under Central Staffing Scheme, age below 54 years as on the date of vacancy and proficiency in computers etc. Also, exposure to international trade and bilateral or international trade negotiations are considered as desirable qualifications for applying for the coveted post. The application must reach the DoPT in just two weeks of issuing the advertisement.

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Action and Appointments

a) Rajiv Kher, a 1980 batch UP cadre IAS, presently joint secretary in the department of of commerce has been appointed as additional secretary in the department of commerce in place of DK Mittal, a 1977 batch UP cadre IAS.

b) Anil Kumar Singh, a 1995 batch UT cadre IAS has been appointed as director in the ministry of home affairs, New Delhi.

British media report drags deputy high commissioner into Anil Verma - Paromita domestic violence case

A BRITISH media report which broke that 1989 batch IAS officer Anil Verma’s wife Paromita had gone into hiding to continue staying in UK with her five-year-old son, has also dragged in Indian deputy high commissioner to UK and 1980 batch IFS Rajesh N Prasad into the controversy as it claimed that Prasad tried to influence Paromita Verma (In picture) to go back to India after the news came out in public that she was beaten up by her husband Anil Verma, the third senior most diplomat in Indian High Commission in London.

Meanwhile, Verma who also had served as private secretary to Pranab Mukherjee when the latter was the foreign minister during UPA-I, is recalled from London. Verma, a West Bengal cadre IAS, was appointed as minister (economic), in high commission of India, London in June 2009 for a three year term.

According to the report published in British tabloid The Mail on Sunday, Paromita Verma was persuaded by Indian high commission officials to come back to India after it refused to waive off the diplomatic immunity of Verma. The report said that after the incident, deputy high commissioner Prasad visited the Vermas at their home on two occasions – on December 13 and on January 3, and even berated Paromita Verma for letting the incident go beyond the family. The report, however, did not accommodate Prasad’s clarification, if any, about the allegation. The Indian high commission in London issued a statement saying that “the incident involves sensitive and personal issues -pertaining to the individual. It is premature to make any further comments at this stage.”

Prasad who had earlier served as joint secretary in India’s ministry of external affairs, hogged the limelight ahead of the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October, 2010, when he wrote a letter to the sports ministry about UK government’s allegation that 25,000 pounds sent from the CWG in India to a company, AM films, in UK, is unaccounted for.

Quick fix: Govt discusses cutting down of file movements

THE government may succeed minimizing layers of file movements and cut down delays that an official file may take from its creation to the date when the decision is finally taken. If a paper doing the rounds in power corridors has its way, the number of level through which a file passes for a decision would not exceed three. The 26-page note titled, “Organizational Structure of Government of India” prepared by the Administrative Reforms Commission has suggested that only in cases where minister’s approval is required, the file should be initiated by deputy secretary or director, and moved through the joint secretary (or additional secretary/special secretary) and secretary (or special secretary) to the minister. If the file requires the approval of the secretary, there should be just two levels --- either under secretary and director, under secretary and joint secretary or director and joint secretary. The note has further suggested that in case approval of joint secretary or director or deputy secretary is required, it should come through just one level. If a consensus is built, suggestions would be prescribed in the Manual of Office Procedure.

Appointments A) Retired official Ms Omita Paul, an IIS of 1973 batch, has been appointed as adviser to the finance minister in the rank and pay of the secretary to the government of India, for a period of three years or until further orders.

B) Anil Verma, a 1989 batch West Bengal cadre IAS, has been appointed as minister (economic), in High Commission of India, London, under the department of commerce, in the Pay Band of Rs 37400-67000/- (PB-4) plus grade pay of Rs. 10000/- for a period of three years or until further orders.