PMO asks for explanation from 5 junior officials about their lackadaisical attitude

Additional Principal Secretary to PM PK Mishra

THE Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has taken note of the casual approach of five junior officials including clerks who neither turned up for scheduled interactive sessions in the PMO nor even bothered to inform it regarding their inability to turn up for the same. Last week, the PMO in an unusual move sent notices to the ministries and departments where those officials were currently working, directing the departments to seek explanation from the officials as to why...

Back To North Block: PK Misra appointed as new DoPT secretary

DoPT secretary Misra

PK Misra, a 1976 batch UP cadre IAS and currently steel secretary, has been appointed as new DoPT secretary. Misra is a natural choice for handling this key job in the department of personnel and training as he had served there as Establishment Officer between 2007 and 2010. As an EO, Misra’s role was to handle postings, transfers etc. of senior Group A civil servants. For the last few days after Alka Sirohi’s retirement, DoPT has been handled by RC Misra, secretary of administrative reforms and public grievances and PK Misra’s batch-mate.

In August, 2011, Misra hogged the limelight when he was conferred with “Distinguished Fellow of IOD (Institute of Directors)” for the year 2011. Justice MN Venkatchaliah presented the fellowship certificate to Misra. The award is considered to be prestigious, and for the record, the first such award was conferred on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in July 1994.

BoI (babusofindia.com) had earlier written that as an EO in DoPT, Misra fixed a one-hour visiting period in the afternoon for any visitor who wanted to have an interaction with him. And many bureaucrats wishing for a transfer or postings on deputation used to hang around outside his room, incidentally located just next to then home secretary GK Pillai’s cabin in North Block, for pitching their cases.

A post graduate in economics, PK Misra was first on Central deputation in late 1980s and early 1990s as deputy secretary and director in the transport ministry. He had a six-month stint as private secretary to railway minister in 1990.

During the NDA regime (1998-2004), Misra was a joint secretary in defence ministry. In 2006, he became an additional secretary and financial adviser in the home ministry and then moved to DoPT as an Establishment Officer.

Action and Appointments

a) ACC has approved the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Pujari, a 1981 batch Gujarat cadre IAS, presently Executive Director, Food Corporation of India, as additional secretary and financial adviser in department of agriculture research and education.

DoPT issues confidential letter to secretaries, bans ministries issuing unilateral instructions on recruitment and services

THE department of personnel and training (DoPT), the nodal department dealing with services issues related to All India Services officers among others, has raised strong objection to a few ministries issuing unilateral instructions regarding the methods of recruitment and service conditions. It could not, however, be learnt which are the departments and ministries which have issued such instructions in violation to the usual practice.

In a letter issued by the department’s special secretary PK Misra to all government of India secretaries, the DoPT said that such unilateral guidelines without the consultation of the DoPT were in violation of established procedures and rules, and asked them not to issue any guidelines or instructions in respect of the methods of recruitment and the conditions of service of any of the Central Services (except those exempted under the

Allocation of Business Rules) or the All lndia Services without following the provisions of government of lndia (Allocation of Business Rules), 1961 and the Government of India (Transaction of Business) Rules, 1961.

The DoPT further warned such ministries saying that such instructions would be made null and void.

DoPT’s confidential letter, dated Feb 18, 2010

Govt earmarks Rs 444 cr to build housing units for police

For those in Central Police Force looking for accommodation, the Budget came as a major help as the government earmarked Rs 444 cr, underlying the need for leveraging this amount through the proposed PPP model and build a large number of housing units. For police, a sum of Rs 30,000 crore has been provided under revenue and capital account.

Action and Appointments

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal for Inter-Cadre deputation of Abhijit Sinha, a 2000 batch Nagaland cadre IAS to Bihar for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders.