Writing a letter to DoPT secretary? Check out this memo to avoid disciplinary action

"How are u sir? Would like 2 meet u 2morrow for a personal cos. Any time pliz" If you are a Central Secretariat Service (CSS) official getting ready to send this SMS to secretary (personnel) or a joint secretary directly, think twice. The department of personnel and training (DoPT) in a recent office memo warned officers not to address any letter or communications directly to DoPT secretary or joint secretaries of the ministry as it violates provisions of the Central Civil Services (CCS) Conduct Rules 1964. What's more, such conduct may attract disciplinary proceedings, the memo warned. The memo was issued after a large number of representations addressed directly to DoPT secretary and joint secretaries by officers of different cadres on issues related to the CSS were received in the recent past. "All cadre units participating in CSS are requested to bring contents of the OM (Office Memorandum) to the notice of all the officials working in their organisations that in future they should invariably route all correspondence to DoPT only through the proper channel and send the same to the concerned dealing officer in the CS Division in the first instance," instructions said. The memo was sent to all cadres participating in CSS. Shantanu Consul, a 1974 batch Karnataka cadre IAS, is now the DoPT secretary replacing his batchmate Rahul Sarin. Significantly, additional secretary P K Mishra is known to give time to random visitors, mostly officials, between 3 pm to 5 pm every working day --- a practice which is highly appreciated and much talked among officials of all ranks. Former DoPT secretary Satyananda Mishra, who is now a Central Information Commissioner, too was quite liberal in sparing some time for officers who visited North Block in matters relating to postings. DoPT Office Memo (October 28, 2009)

Know Your Babu: Shantanu Consul is new DoPT secretary

SHANTANU Consul, a 1974 batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer took over as secretary department of personnel & training (DoPT) in the ministry of personnel, public grievance and pensions. He succeeds Rahul Sarin who superannuated on Monday. Read, “Post-retirement plan for MCA secretary Anurag Goel & personnel secretary Rahul Sarin firmed up in advance” posted on August 3, 2009 Bio-data Name: Shantanu Consul Cadre: Karnataka cadre IAS Batch: 1974 Date of Birth: October 5, 1950 Place of domicile: Karnataka Mother tongue: Hindi Educational Qualifications a) MA in history b) Certificate, German c) Certificate, Marketing Some Major Postings i) Deputy Commissioner, Bidar (March 1, 1982 to April 1, 1983) ii) Deputy secretary, department of civil aviation, (November 1, 1983 to August 1, 1985) iii) Director, Tourism (July 1, 1988 to June 1, 1990) iv) Managing Director at the level of JS (May 1, 1990 to September 1, 1990) v) Joint secretary, ministry of chemicals & fertilizers, (April 1, 1995 to October 31, 2000) vi) Principal secretary at the level of additional secretary Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department (March 1, 2001 to April 1 2002) vii) Secretary, Border Management, MHA (February 11, 2008 to July 20, 2008) viii) Secretary, ministry of mines and minerals (July 21, 2008 to March 23, 2009) ix) Secretary, department of drinking water supply (March 23, 2009 to September 1, 2009) x) Secretary, DoPT (September 1, 2009 ….) Foreign Education a) MBA, Univ of Hull, UK, 1990 b) Two-weeks long advanced management programme in UK in 2007 Action & Appointments Air Marshal KJ Mathews takes over as the new HR head of Air Force Air Marshal KJ Mathews took over as the new Air Officer-in-charge Personnel (AOP), the head of human resources of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Air Headquarters on Tuesday. Commissioned in the year 1973, Air Marshal Mathews has over 3,500 hours of flying to his credit on various aircraft that include HF-24 (Marut), Hunter, MiG-21M and MiG-29. He was station commander of an operational base during Kargil operations, Principal Director of Concept Studies, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) at Air HQ and Commandant, Air Force Academy before his current appointment. He was alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Air War College, USA. Missile scientist Sarawat is new DRDO chief Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, noted missile scientist took over as secretary, department of defence research & development, scientific adviser to Raksha Mantri (SA to RM) and director general, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday. Read "Action & Appointments: Missile scientist Dr VK Saraswat is new DRDO chief; to act as scientific adviser to A K Antony" posted on August 28, 2009. Dr Lal Path Lab owner made an honorary brigadier Chairman and managing director of Dr Lal Path Labs, Dr Arvind Lal has been accorded the honorary rank of Brigadier in the Armed Forces Medical Services with effect from July 9, 2009. Dr Lal is an alumnus of the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. Conferred with Padma Shri award this year, Dr Lal is a recipient of the Indira Gandhi Solidarity Award in 1994, Delhi Ratan Award in 2005, Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine in 2003 and the International Business Council Award 1994.