Tamilnadu in the Flag Day Fund Collection Overdrive?

From: Mrs. Usha Sundar, W/o Lt Col CR Sundar (Retd) dated 01 Nov 2012 from Chennai
To: The Collector, Kanchipuram District.
IRREGULARITIES IN RESPECT OF FLAG DAY FUND COLLECTION IN REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICES (RTO) OF TAMIL NADU
Sir,
1. I have attached herewith a copy of an article published in the popular Tamil Weekly ‘Anandha Vikatan’ dated 24/10/2012.
2. There are serious allegations against all RTOs of Tamil Nadu in the said article. As per the article the RTO’s are indulging in a ‘collection spree’ called ‘flag charge’. Instead of the stipulated Rs 36/- they extort Rs. 250/- for a two-wheeler and Rs. 500/- for a four-wheeler. For grant of ‘fitness certificates’ (FC) the rate is Rs. 500/- for medium sized vehicles, Rs. 750/- for buses and lorries and Rs. 1,000/- for heavier vehicles. These rates are for non-defective vehicles. Defective vehicles are charged double.
3. As a member of the public I am very concerned. But as the wife of a retired Army Officer I am pained and angry.
4. Flag Day Fund was set up in 1949 by the Defence Minister’s Committee. In 1993 the Defence Ministry of India consolidated all related welfare funds into Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. Its purposes are Rehabilitation of battle casualties, Welfare of serving personnel and their families and Resettlement and welfare of Ex Servicemen and their families. Fund collection is managed throughout the country by the local arms of Kendriya Sainik Boards (KSB).
5. RTOs of Tamil Nadu are not collection agencies. But they are collecting huge amounts throughout the year and misusing the funds.
6. You as the collector are aware that Ex Servicemen are a deprived lot, and find it very hard to survive in the civilian world.. Every year 7 Dec is commemorated as ‘Flag Day’ and certain formalities are conducted in every DSSA Board in the state .Money is collected in their cause but one never gets to hear anything about the amounts collected, or the ways in which these funds were distributed (if at all) among ESM. We request you to verify the report and take necessary action against the culprits involved.
7. Ex Servicemen are treated with the highest honour and respect elsewhere in the world.. Here in India, especially in Tamil Nadu we are told that State- run offices and officers are looting the general public in the name of those Veterans who gave the best years of their life in the defence of their motherland. It is the ultimate treachery.
8. The ‘Serving Fraternity of officers and the Ministry of Defence’ and the Retired Generals living in Tamil Nadu must work together to stop this sort of Disrespect and Dishonour to the Ex Servicemen and their dependents and widows. Thank You,
Yours faithfully,
Sd/- (Ms.Usha Sundar)
Copy to:
1. The Asst Dir, DSSA Board Tambaram.
2. The AFA, Air Force Station Tambaram.
3. GOC, ATNK&K Area Chennai.
4. The Editor, Anandha Vikatan, Chennai.
Comment: Thalsidar Offices who hand out death certificates are also involved in this racket. There is no control over these State Agencies who are in the money spinning mode and cheating the poor citizens of India into believing these funds are helping Ex Servicemen!

High Court raps Army: Officer Courts a Sri Lankan

Karnataka HC to Indian Army: Stop coming in the way of lovers like khaps do
by FP Staff Oct 31, 2012
This story could well be fodder for a sizzling silver screen romance, only the Karnataka High Court nipped the Indian Army’s opposition of two young lovers in the bud.
A Bangalore-based major who fell in love with a Sri Lankan student studying in the same city ran into trouble after the defence establishment got suspicious of his and his lover’s motives. In fact, according to a Times of India report the Army ordered an ‘investigation’ into Major Vikas Kumar’s ”purpose behind coming in contact with a foreign national”.
When Kumar, in order to get married to the 29-year-old Sri Lankan student, tried quitting from the service as the Army rules don’t allow serving officers to marry foreign nationals, his superiors refused to relieve him of his duties citing ‘staff crunch’. That is when he moved court.
A bench headed by chief justice Vikramjit Sen at the Karnataka High Court then rapped the Army saying that their bid to stop the lovers from being together is khap panchayat-like.
The TOI report says: Displeased with the arguments of the government counsel, Justice Sen observed: “This is not a khap panchayat, this is the Army.” He also said, “We can’t understand the Army’s stand at all. This is most unfortunate for the man. One of India’s Presidents, also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, was married to a foreigner.” (A reference to K R Narayanan who was married to Ma Tint Tint of Myanmarese origin). Karnataka HC to Indian Army: Stop coming in the way of lovers like khaps do

Propriety & Impropriety: A nation on the decline

- The Last Word - CNN IBN - 30 Oct 2012
An interesting debate last evening on CNN IBN, a distinguished panel to include an ex-Army Chief, an ex-Naval Chief and also an ex-Cabinet Secretary....of course, with the most popular anchor, Karan Thapar, hosting the show
The topic was " Ex-Army Chief Gen VK Singh demanding that Parliament be dissolved". Earlier it was reported in the newspapers that Anna Hazare and the ex-Army Chief had asked for Lok Sabha to be dissolved since the UPA government had crossed all limits of corruption. VK Singh had also said, "A new set of parliamentarians is needed. Let elections be held so that people can decide if they are satisfied".
While no one was asked on the credibility of the content and the intent of the statement, the issue basically revolved around the 'Propriety' of this demand by an ex-Army Chief, a man in uniform and on the Chief's chair till about a few months back. How could he question the very government he was serving and also enjoys the perk of retaining a government accommodation for a period of six months post-retirement. I shall not delve on the issue of this perk as the government has done no favour as he is entitled to such a perk like his predeccessors/successors and the government is only a custodian of such property and by no chance can claim ownership of such public property.
My comments shall be restricted to 'Propriety'....some definitions are 'The quality of being proper; appropriateness, Conformity to prevailing customs and usages, The usages and customs of polite society'. It is evident, therefore, that no one is questioning the legality or the technicality of such a statement...and the fingers are being pointed at an ex-Army man, a soldier in uniform!!
We need a level playing field...the Army cannot be judged on a template different from others....we are a part of the same society. Let us start from the top in the government, restricting my observations to 'propriety' only.
1. Why should the President of India not be questioned for impropriety for offering his consultancy services to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on the cabinet reshuffle? Also, was it proper for him to stand for President when his role as Finance Minister is under cloud for going slow on economic offences relating to hawala/money laundering/Swiss-foreign bank accounts
2. Does not propriety demand that the Vice President had no business to arbitrarily close the debate on Lokpal Bill at 12.00 midnight at the behest of Pawan Bansal, when the rules and advisory note by his Secretary General clarified that the session could continue
3. Propriety demands that the Prime Minister should have resigned long time ago, initially on the CVC judgement, which the PM took as 'error of judgement', his involvement in 2G scam, particularly so after the statement of ex-Cabinet Secretary Chandrashekhar, as Coal Minister in the Coalgate scam and other omissions/ discretions... the biggest damage the PM has done is that he has nullified the basic foundation of governance by his misinterpretation of 'responsibility and accountability' giving a leverage to every minister/ bureaucrat in politico-executive and executive to shun these and play safe with no compulsion to govern
4. In case propriety has to be made applicable to the Judiciary, should not ex-CJI Balakrishnan resign as Chairman Human Rights Commission for disproportionate assets accumulated by his kith & kin and offer himself for a thorough investigation
5. Propriety demands that all Governors to include Narayanan and Gen JJ Singh, appointed immediately after retiring from government appointments be asked to quit...all bureaucrats on post-retirement appointments be sent home and hereafter the government must function on its authorised establishment with total moratorium committees/commissions/advisors/consultants
6. Propriety demands that Sonia Gandhi should clarify on her state of health and source of funds/expense on her medical treatment and other visits abroad 7. Propriety also demands that all privileges of Robert Vadra and Priyanka Gandhi be withdrawn immediately as they are private persons and have no business to be allotted government accommodation, SPG cover and exempted from security checks/toll taxes ...all cases against Robert Vadra be investigated by SIT on fast track basis
8. Nitin Gadkari should resign as President BJP as Propriety does not allow him to continue in this post
9. Propriety demands that Laloo Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati and Sharad Pawar resign from the party posts and offer themselves for investigation into several disproprtionate assets cases
10. After witnessing the conduct of the Parliamentarians during the last session, does not propriety demand that the Lok sabha should have been dissolved immediately and their privileges withdrawn....all perks need to be reviewed
11. Propriety demands that the concept of VVIP/VIPs be done away with, NSG and other security cover withdrawn and those in governance start living normal lives in conformity with the dictates of a polite and cultured society
Let us not attack the messengers of change...concentrate on the issue being raised...there is no governance...the justice system has failed....the 'unelected' and the 'unelectable' are only crying that order be restored in society and the future of the nation be safeguarded... it does not matter whether the voice is raised by Anna Hazare or Arvind Kejriwal or ex-CJI JS Verma or ex-Army Chief Gen VK Singh....what matters is the "ISSUE", the issue of good governance and effective measures to arrest corruption....an aam aadmi needs such people to project their grievances and sentiments...the media does not listen to ordinary people as that does not earn them TRPs
No nation can survive by neglecting its Army....the government has not only shown scant respect for the Defence Services, it has gone out of its way to deny its entitlements and humiliated its own Army on several occasions...In the 'Rank Pay' case, it repeatedly lodged review petitions in the Supreme Court to deny the rights....What can one say of a government which cheats its own Army
Propriety demands dis-solution of the Lok Sabha, fresh elections and responsible voting by the aam aadmi, the actual custodian of this great country called India
with best regards
ajb

SC quashes HC's gag order on troops movement

SC quashes HC's gag order on reporting troops movement
Friday, September 14, 2012, 16:29
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday quashed the Allahabad High Court order which had prevented media from reporting on the controversy related to alleged Army units' movement towards Delhi on January 16 amid the then prevailing row over erstwhile Army Chief V K Singh's date of birth.
A bench of justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad allowed the plea of Press Council of India which had challenged the order saying that court cannot impose such a ban on media as it violates the freedom of speech.
The bench said the high court erred in passing such order as ban on media was not sought and the prayer was only to hold an inquiry into the controversial incident.
"We are of the opinion that the high court should not have passed the order as the prayer before it was entirely different and it was inconsonance with the prayer made by the petitioner," the bench said.
The court also took into account its recent Constitution bench judgement which had said press can only be directed to postpone the reporting for a certain period.
The Centre also said it was against the high court's order and it should be quashed.
The high court had directed various Central and state government authorities on April 10 "to ensure that there is no reporting/release of any news item by the print or electronic media on the movement of troops."
The high court's order was passed on a PIL which said a national daily and a news magazine had reported on movements of the Army units from Agra to Delhi when the Singh's age row controversy was at peak. The petitioner had said the reports were against national interest.
The PCI had approached the apex court saying the order was in violation of the fundamental right under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution, granted to the media and every citizen of the country.
SC quashes HC's gag order on reporting troops movement
Business Standard report

Greetings: Report My Signal

REPORT MY SIGNAL

Chander Kamboj
For my NRI Friends
Link to Door Darshan News Live on Web.
http://webcast.gov.in/live/
Watch and listen to the PM of India giving the 15 Aug speech from the ramparts of The Red Fort At 0700 hours IST

WISHING YOU ALL AND YOUR FAMILIES
A VERY HAPPY
AND ENJOYABLE INDEPENDENCE DAY

Independence Day Greetings

I LOVE MY NATION............
Jana gana mana adhinayaka jaya he
Barata bagya vidata
Punjab sindu Gujarat Marat
Dravida utcla Banga
Vindhya himachala Ganga
Ucchala jaladi taranga
Tubh shuba name jagr
Tubh shuba ashisha manga
Gahe tubh jaya gade
jana gana mana adhinayaka jaya he
Barata bagya vidata
Jaya he ! Jaya he ! Jaya he!
Jaya jaya jaya jaya he
........JAIHIND
RMS Team wishes all the Readers
A Happy Republic Day

Honest Prime Minister heads the most corrupt cabinet in the world

Team Anna charges 15 UPA ministers with corruption
Saturday 26 May 2012

Team Anna has accused 15 UPA government ministers including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram, of corruption.
Team Anna launched a scathing attack against the UPA government for failing to pass the Lokapal Bill and served a fresh ultimatum to the PM to meet their demands or face another agitation on July 25.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the anti-corruption crusaders alleged that since 15 out of 34 cabinet ministers had serious corruption charges against them, they would not allow Lokpal Bill to be passed.
Corrupted ministers in UPA: Team Anna
“There are serious allegations of corruption against PM, Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Kamal Nath, Salman Khurshid, Kapil Sibal, Farooq Abdullah, SM Krishna, GK Vasan, Praful Patel and Sharad Pawar, they will not allow a strong Lokpal,” alleged Prashant Bhushan. “Several top party functionaries such as Mulayam Singh, Lalu Yadav and Jayalalithaa have been involved in scams, they will never allow Lokapal Bill to be passed”, echoed Kejriwal. The team urged the Prime Minister to initiate the formation of a Special Investigative Team to probe charges against the 15 corrupt ministers within six months.
Team Anna wants corrupt Ministers and Politicians investigated
Will the New Chief play a second fiddle to PM and its corrupt cabinet?
PM hosts farewell dinner for Gen V K Singh
Readers Response
With VK Singh out, the demise of India army will continue - We'll have COAS like Deepak Kapoor, focusing on grabbing land for themselves, rather than protecting the land they took an oath of protection to. - We'll have a whole bunch of army kids in foreign land - the kind that are there in Congo now (refer outlook story)- after a battallion of Sikh Li left behind a trail of kids with "distinctive Indian features" - By the way, the UN Forces Commandar, during the the time the Indian army unit was busy fathering kids, was Gen Bikram Singh - the next COAS ! - We'll see a sudden increase in gallantary medals - the kind that are obtained by splashing tomato ketchup on civilians posing for photographs (remember Col. Kohli's case) and fake encounters (remember Maj Singh case of Siachin encounters) - With an army composed of cowherds, land grabbers and what not, if Pakistan were to do another Kargil, they would probably reach Delhi this time. With VK Singh, the government had a chance to set the Army straight, but alas!
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Consumer Redressal Commission imposes Rs 10,000 fine on AWHO

Consumer body hints at ‘Adarsh-like scam’ in Army housing allotment in Panchkula
Rajni Shaleen Chopra,Rajni Shaleen Chopra Posted: Jan 08, 2012
Chandigarh Haryana Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has taken a stern view of the irregularities in allotments by Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) at its residential project at Sector 20 in Panchkula, and has said that “if enquired into deeply, this may again turn out to be another scam like Adarsh Society at Bombay”.
In a recent order, the Commission had taken note of the lack of transparency by AWHO, and “violation of rules...to accommodate their own favourites”. President of the Commission Justice R S Madan and Judicial Member B M Bedi stated, “Though the organisation was created for the welfare of serving/retired defence personnel and was expected to act in a transparent manner...allotments have been made by adopting to a system of fixing security arbitrarily”.

The order was delivered following the appeal made by the Managing Director of AWHO, New Delhi and Col Satish Kumar, Project Director of the Sector 20 project, against the order of District Consumer Forum, Panchkula. The Forum had decided in favour of the complainant, Subedar Raj Kumar Dhingra (retd) of Sector 2, Panchkula.

The Commission dismissed the appeal filed with scathing remarks against AWHO, and imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on it.

Dhingra stated in his complaint that in June 2004, he registered for the AWHO housing scheme in Sector 20 by paying Rs 90,500. The seniority of applicants was to be determined on the basis of the date of bank draft given for the registration fee.

Dhingra was given a registration number and placed at Serial Number 15. In May 2009, AWHO informed him that his waitlist seniority was ‘1’. He was told to either seek transfer to the AWHO project in Panchkula’s Sector 27 or withdraw his registration, as all dwelling units had been allotted. Dhingra complained to AWHO in this regard, but did not get justice.

In June, AWHO again informed him that all dwelling units except one had been handed over. Dhingra told the court that this was contrary to their earlier letter.

In its reply, AWHO said the seniority of applicants was fixed by a local computerised draw in July 2004. In this, Dhingra’s seniority was 723 against the availability of 348 apartments. Dhingra was given the option of changing his registration from Sector 20 to Sector 27, Panchkula, but he did not agree. AWHO said that Dhingra was ranked ‘1’ on the waiting list but no apartment was available, hence there was no deficiency of service on its part.

After considering the case, the Commission said the AWHO rules did not prescribe for any computerised draw. “AWHO has not disclosed the date of draw, the officer under whose supervision it was held, the manner of the draw etc,” said the order.

The Commission further added: “One of the registrants against whom the complainant has a grievance (a Brigadier) was not even a member of the scheme till August 2004 while the complainant had registered in June 2004 and the draw was held in July 2004.” Hence, Dhingra was high up in the seniority list.

After considering other aspects of the case, the Commission observed that allotment was not done fairly by AWHO. The Commission upheld the order of the Forum that AWHO must allot a flat to Dhingra at Sector 20 or 27, Panchkula or at Sector 114 in Mohali at the same price.
Consumer body hints at ‘Adarsh-like scam’ in Army housing allotment in Panchkula

Demise of the National Carrier: Parting kick by Praful Patel

Praful Patel's family flew business class after Air India called in big planes
NDTV Sandeep Phukan, Sidharth Pandey, Updated: February 21, 2012 00:47 IST
New Delhi: Air India has been forced to reveal that Praful Patel's family was able to fly business class after last-minute changes were made to pull in a bigger plane for their journey last year, ensuring they were able to fly business class.
Mr Patel was then Civil Aviation Minister.
The details of his family's travel have been released because of a Right to Information application filed by activist Subhash Agarwal.
On April 25, Mr Patel's daughter, Avni, her husband, and relatives of her in-laws were to fly from Bangalore to the Maldives. The plane usually reserved for that flight - an Airbus 319 - has eight business class seats. Seven of them had been booked for other passengers. On April 8, instructions were emailed from the airline's Mumbai headquarters to the Bangalore station manager asking for an Airbus 320 to be used on April 25 and April 28 - the days on which Mr Patel's family members would be flying into and out of the Maldives. As a result, more than 50 seats were vacant on both routes (the A320 has many more economy class seats than the A 319).
Air India had refused to part with the information citing commercial secrets, but last month, the Central Information Commissioner ordered the carrier to make the information public in larger interest.
NDTV Report

Praful Patel has graduated and grounded to Heavy Industries for more kickbacks
Comments by vish 11 hours ago
In other parts of the world, small accusations of someone politicians going for a lavish dinner or for some sort of perfectly legal loans from government banks - make the concerned politicians be inquired and finally most of the time they are required to resign. In London one minister resigned since he was accused of dodging to pay a speeding fine some 8-10 years back. Compare this to India - these shameless guys do everything wrong possible in this world and do not even blink eyes are accused. This Praful Patel has amassed huge wealth and now owns huge tracts of properties in Maharashtra and Mumbai - can he show how he amassed this wealth in all these years (except for sure sucking of Air India). Its easy for Income Tax and Enforcement authorities to get the details in just few days but obviously with Congress in power this would never happen...
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Army Chief's age: Personal matter or conspiracy?

30 Jan 2012
RSN Singh is a former military intelligence officer who later served in the Research and Analysis Wing, or R&AW. The author of two books: Asian Strategic and Military Perspective and Military Factor in Pakistan, he is also Associate Editor, Indian Defence Review. He analyses Army Chief's age: Personal matter or conspiracy?
The controversy over the army chief's date of birth (D.O.B.) is bizarre and probably symptomatic of the degradation of value systems at the higher echelons of the army. It is definitely not a sudden development.

Officers of the rank of lieutenant general have gone to the civil courts on matters relating to promotions in the past. The only institution which had no need to do so was that of the army chief, because that was the end of the hierarchy and the ladder. But then there was the allure of post-retirement sinecure and many army chiefs were perceived to be bending backwards for it.

Eventually, by a seemingly capillary action, the malaise crept right to the top. The system had acquired such a culture of sleaze and conspiracy over the years that there was an attempt to even manipulate the duration and succession chain of the institution.

Gen VK Singh's decision to go to the Supreme Court is a manifestation of this. The case otherwise was so simple – or such a non-issue- that its resolution was more a matter of common sense than judicial intervention.

The case arose from a difference in the records of the Military Secretary's Branch and the Adjutant General's (AG's) Branch of the army. The latter is the usual record-keeper.

In Gen Singh's case, the ministry of defence decided that it will go by the Military Secretary's records – when common sense should have told it to do otherwise. In fact, the MoD has done so in at least one earlier case.

In a strikingly similar case, one Col Ramesh Chander Joshi (IC-16142) received his orders for retirement from the MS Branch (vide Letter No. 30004/Sep 96/Tech/MS Retirement w.e.f. 30 September 1996) based on the fact that his date of birth was listed as 22 September 1944.

However, the records with the Adjutant General's branch clearly indicated his date of birth as 25 November 1945. The officer communicated this anomaly to the MS Branch. In the absence of reply, on the last day of his retirement, i.e. 30 September 1996, the officer had no option but to send a signal directly to the army chief.

Promptly, on the same day, the officer received a message "This HQ letter No 30004/Sep/96/Tech/MS Retirement of 13 Sep 1996 regarding retirement of IC 16142 Col Ramesh Chander Joshi Engrs of E-in-c's Branch Army Hq w.e.f. from 30 Sep 96 is hereby cancelled. The claimed date of birth as 25 Nov 45 has been accepted by ministry of defence (MoD). Officer will continue in service till further orders."

As in the case of Gen Singh, the date of birth column in the UPSC form in respect of Col Joshi had been incorrectly filled and was corrected by the UPSC first and subsequently by the National Defence Academy (NDA) once his Senior Cambridge certificate arrived.

Col Joshi wonders: "If it has happened in my case why not in the case of Gen VK Singh?"

Most army officers are bewildered and question: where is the scope for controversy?

Various military secretaries who had dealt with the case, in keeping with their moral imperative, could have ‘corrected' their records within a matter of hours.

A simple acknowledgement of the mistake could have done much to establish fairplay, judgment and credibility on the part of the Military Secretary Branch. This acknowledgement would otherwise have made no difference to the date of birth of Gen Singh, as the Army List has no legal sanctity. An acknowledgement or acceptance of mistake was desired because it was repeated over more than 36 years. Every year, at the time of the general's Annual Confidential Records, his date of birth was mentioned as 10 May 1951.

There are scores of such cases in the Army List, wherein the date of birth, or IC number or name is wrongly entered. People have retired as lieutenant generals with wrong IC numbers in the Army List. If these military secretaries were 'men of honour' they should have accepted their 'omissions' and tried to clean up the functioning of the MS Branch.

The buzz among army insiders is that these gentlemen entered into a conspiracy with at least two army chiefs and subsequent powers that be in inflicting their mistake or omission (of not correcting the army chief's d.o.b.) and blackmailing Gen Singh by using the inaccurate and inconsequential document called the 'Army List' as tool.

Some 90 percent officers in the army retire without seeing the Army List. There is a popular saying in the army that only crooks and careerists see the Army List.

Can the Supreme Court bring closure to Army Chief age row?

The General is fighting for his honour. Only an SC verdict will bring closure to Army chief age row by Venky Vembu Jan 19, 2012
When a military strategy isn’t going well or risks excessive losses, wisdom lies in reviewing it, even if it entails retreat from entrenched positions.

The controversy over the date of birth of the Army chief, Gen VK Singh, which has unfortunately pitted the civilian and the military pillars of the state as combatants, now risks going past the point of no return.

The Army chief is battling to protect his honour over the discrepancy in the military records over his date of birth. The civilian bureaucracy and their ministerial masters had several opportunities to make mid-course correction, but having missed them, it is today unyielding in its defence of its earlier decision regarding the Army chief’s date of birth.

There is plenty of blame to go around, but primarily, it is bureaucratic cussedness, backed by ministerial mulishness, that has escalated the matter thus far, and even today inhibits the government from accepting a good soldier’s word on the circumstances in which the discrepancy about his date of birth crept into the military records.

From accounts that are now coming to the surface in the light of the Army chief’s filing before the Supreme Court, his efforts over the years at reconciling the records after the discrepancy in his birthdate first cropped appear to have been systematically blunted.

Gen Singh has been trying since as early as in 1985 to correct the records, and was told that the correction would be effected in the normal course. Yet, it was never done.

Assurances from successive army chiefs and ministers that the record would be set right, or that a face-saving and honourable resolution to the embarrassing controversy would be found, have come to nothing.

Yet, over the years, the Military Secretary branch had tacitly acknowledged, while processing the several illustrious awards that Gen Singh has been decorated with, that his date of birth was indeed 10 May 1951.

It wasn’t until May 2006 that the matter surfaced again: That month, the Military Secretary branch noted that Gen Singh’s date on its records did not match with the records of the Adjutant General branch.

In July 2008, Gen Singh was assured by the then Army chief, Gen Deepak Kapoor, that the records would be cleaned up to clear the discrepancy, but the military bureaucracy appears not to have delivered.

Even up until last week, before Gen Singh crossed the Rubicon and moved the Supreme Court, he was assured by Finance Minister (and former Defence Minister) Pranab Mukherjee that an honourable way out would be worked out, with the government accepting the General’s claim in respect of his date of birth if he agreed to retire in May this year.

The Indian Express reports that Gen Singh seemed inclined to accept such a compromise formula, provided it would be effected before a public interest petition, filed by an ex-servicemen’s association, came up for hearing before the Supreme Court. (That PIL will now be heard has been dismissed, which was why Gen Singh moved to file his affidavit before the Supreme Court earlier this week.)

But even that formula was spiked by the defence ministry bureaucracy, virtually forcing Gen Singh to take the unprecedented step of moving the Supreme Court.

Even now, there are various compromise formulae being floated under which the government would reconcile the military records in a way that accepts Gen Singh’s word – and protects his honour – and simultaneously secure his premature retirement in May this year.

But such a compromise formula would again be susceptible to legal challenge, because so much else rides on it.

Under the circumstances, there is a strong a case to allow the Supreme Court to go into the merits of the case, and deliver a verdict on the General’s date of birth. Sure, a court-mandated resolution isn’t the best way to resolve what has escalated into an unseemly tussle between the civilian and military pillars. It may not be as “neat” as a compromise formula.

But at least it will have the stamp of judicial authority on a contentious issue. It will bring a closure to this sordid episode in a way that a compromise formula, which could again be dragged back to court, will not.
Only an SC verdict will bring closure to Army chief age row

Comment by Soumen Sengupta Pundit
I think the main issue is that with the type of corruption and nepotism going on with the Politicians, nobody believes them. They are losing their credibility hence no Indians are convinced about the logic even it may be right. I think this is a dangerous precedent for a democracy, everybody knows somewhere it needs to end... but the million dollar question is "HOW".

The General and the labyrinth

The Hindu January 18, 2012
The controversy over the age of General V.K. Singh, the subject of an already heated and often unseemly public debate, is now threatening to get out of hand. With the Army Chief left with no resort but to challenge the Defence Ministry in the Supreme Court in order to “protect his integrity and honour,” the issue has the makings of an unseemly civilian-military confrontation that could easily have been avoided had plain common sense prevailed over bureaucratic thick-headedness. There are a slew of documents — including a birth certificate and a school-leaving certificate — that prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that General Singh, whose father as well as grandfather were Army officers, was born on May 10, 1951. This is the date of birth recorded in the office of the Adjutant General, the Army's official record-keeper. The controversy has arisen because the Military Secretary — another wing of Army Headquarters that maintains personal records relating to postings, transfers, and promotions — records him as having been born on May 10, 1950. General Singh has been at pains to explain that the latter date, gleaned from an application form for entrance to the National Defence Academy when he was only 14 years old, was a mistake committed by a teacher of his. He has also revealed that the discrepancy was raised with two predecessor Army Chiefs — but, strangely and for reasons the Defence Ministry has not yet disclosed, to no avail.

A brave and highly decorated officer, General Singh is recognised as a brilliant strategist and a reform-minded leader who is tough on corruption, as reflected in the hard line he adopted against erring officers in the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam. The mudslinging and insinuations intended to portray him as someone fiddling with his birth date to hang on to the power and privileges of high office must be rejected with contempt. One major reason why his year of birth has become such a hot potato is that the date of his retirement will have a bearing on who will succeed him as Army Chief. By refusing to accede to General Singh's request to correct the official record on the basis of documented fact, the Defence Ministry has shown astonishing short-sightedness, and in the process tread on a proud soldier's sense of honour. Even now, rather than fight for a bad cause in the highest court in the land, a disputation that could have a bearing on the Army's morale, the government should backtrack and come up with a constructive solution. By conceding General Singh's just case and treating him with the respect and honour that are his due, it should be able to clear the decks for a smooth succession to the post he occupies.
The General and the labyrinth

Records to be reconciled?
Army chief age row: Government wants records reconciled

Army Chief vs Govt: Should General VK Singh resign?

Left Right & Centre: A day after the Army Chief dragged the government to the Supreme Court over his age, the government has decided to fight him and stands firm. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has held consultations with senior ministers and the Centre has filed a caveat in the court that says it be heard before any order is passed.

Ex Servicemen burgled of his life savings

Gang decamps with 40 sovereigns of gold from ex-serviceman's house
Jan 2, 2012, 12.50AM IST TNN
COIMBATORE: Unidentified gang gained entry into an ex-serviceman's house at Theethiapalayam near Perur on and decamped with 40 sovereigns of gold jewels and 6 kg of silver articles. Forensic experts have lifted fingerprints from the crime scene and a special team has been formed to nab the culprits.
According to the police, Sivakumar (40), an ex-serviceman, is working as an office assistant at the ex-servicemens' welfare association office in the city. He went with his family to Vellore to offer prayers in a temple on December 28.
Meanwhile, an unidentified gang entered into Sivakumar's house by breaking open the front door. They had fled from the house after stealing 40 sovereigns of gold jewels and 6 kg's of silver from an almirah in the house. When Sivakumar and his family came back from Vellore on Saturday evening, they found front door of the house broken and the house burgled.
Immediately, Sivakumar alerted the Perur police and a team rushed to the spot with sniffer dog, but was unable to get any clue. Later, forensic experts lifted inger prints from the house.
A special team has been formed to nab the culprits. Police have decided to intensify the night patrol in the area.
Gang decamps with 40 sovereigns of gold from ex-serviceman's house

Comment: Tamilnadu has become a haven for dacoits from Bihar, UP, Andhra, Orissa and MP to freely operate- burgle and escape. It has been revealed they fly in- get information from locals on Mobile phone- burgle or snatch gold ornaments and make a clean and speedy exit leaving the police clueless!
The local informers mostly on two wheelers track customers addresses when they withdraw cash from ATMs, banks and and purchase Gold ornaments and pass them on to professional burglars from other states. Ex Servicemen need to be more extra security concious and be as vigilant as in service.

Jawan tortured by Police

Jawan tortured by police, Ludhiana family alleges
Balwinder Kumar, Hindustan Times
Ludhiana, November 10, 2011
The father of an army man has alleged that his son was tortured at a police station in Ludhiana district, and has demanded a high-level probe into the incident. Harbans Singh said his son Jasbir Singh was stripped and beaten up at Mullanpur Dakha police station by station house officer (SHO), inspector Prem Singh, and other police personnel, and also slapped with two false cases on October 1.

Jasbir, 27, who is posted at Khanpur Camp in Delhi, was on leave and at home with his father in Ludhiana’s Mullanpur Dakha town when the SHO summoned the duo to the police station on October 1.

The father and son had in August complained of "forcible eviction" from their rented home and the call to the police station was reportedly in this regard.

The SHO started taking the side of the other party and pressurised Jasbir and his father to reach a compromise in the case, Harbans said.

Harbans claimed that when he opposed this, Prem Singh slapped him. "When Jasbir intervened, the SHO shut the door of the police station and he and other policemen assaulted my son," he said.

His son was stripped and brutally thrashed for two hours, Harbans said.

The next day Jasbir was sent to Ludhiana jail on "false" charges. The SHO slapped two cases against Jasbir — assaulting to deter public servant from discharge of duty (this on the statement of Prem Singh himself who was also the inquiry officer); and attempt to rape, Jasbir's father said.

This second case was registered following a complaint by a 45- year-old woman on the same day, Harbans said.

In his letter to army authorities he claimed that the woman is a "police informer" and had come to the police station in support of the opposite party.

Harbans said his family members had gone to Delhi to meet army officers of the unit, and were assured of justice. The family has written to the Punjab DGP and other senior officers demanding a probe. DIG (Ludhiana range) MF Farooqui said he had received the complaint. An inquiry would be done to ensure justice, he said. The family has also filed a bail application in the attempt to rape case in Punjab and Haryana high court.
Jawan tortured by police, Ludhiana family alleges

Grievance Redressal Mechanism

Govt Prepares Draft Bill on Citizens’ Right to Grievance Redress; Seeks Inputs from Stakeholders
A draft Citizens Right to Grievance Redress Bill 2011 has been prepared and put up in the public domain for suggestions/inputs from the stakeholders. This was informed by the MoS, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and PMO, Shri Narayanasamy in New Delhi today. The Draft aims at creating institutionalize mechanism to ensure delivery of public services in a time bound manner and redressal of public grievances.
Key recommendations in the Draft Bill are:
1. There will be a Citizens Charter, and a protocol will be put in place.
2. Bill can be enacted as a central legislation under the concurrent list Item 8 (actionable wrongs) and can cover:
a. Central Schemes and Central Government Departments
b. Provide a Platform to States to make this a Grievance Redressal Mechanism for State Schemes and Departments
3. Bill will incorporate the institution of Information and Facilitation Centre in all public authorities to ensure that Citizens can be facilitated and grievances are systematically recorded and tracked using telephone, sms, web etc.
4. First level Redress should be within concerned department as proposed. This should be done through a Grievance Redress Officer in each department
5. The second level redress/ appeal will be at the level of Head of the Department of the public authority.
6. State Grievance Commissions should be set up as second level appellate authorities.
The Draft Bill can be accessed at the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances website www.darpg.gov.in All those interested can send their suggestions/comments/inputs within 21 days. *** RS/SR (Release ID :76965)

Anna Hazare arouses the Nation's Conscience

Dear Colleagues,
It is a historic day for India. The peoples’ power has been recognized. Our heartiest congratulations go to Anna Hazare for bringing about this momentous change. He has been an epitome of steely resolve, stoic determination and civilized behavior. The government failed to see what had become abundantly clear to the whole world. Had they shown more perspicacity and grace the physical suffering of this true crusader could have been greatly ameliorated.
A battle has been won. The war will be truly won only when the bill is finally enacted, a Lokpal is in place and people start feeling relief from the cancer of corruption. But a beginning has been made, and a very good one. Knowing Anna as the country knows him now, he will carry the baton till the finishing line. We wish him good health and long life. The IESM was happy to be fully visible in the event and its support and contribution was duly recognized.
If events of past two weeks are any indicator, it should lead to another positive; Delhi police may become more people friendly. Hopefully.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

India, US spar over Anna fast

12/08/2011
Washington urges restraint, India says comment needless; Govt ready for Lokpal talks: PC
New Delhi/ Washington: Ahead of activist Anna Hazare's fast, the US said it counted on a democratic India to "exercise restraint" against peaceful protesters, eliciting a sharp reaction from New Delhi that the comments were "needless."
"As you know, we support the right of peaceful, non-violent protest around the world," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters in Washington when asked if the US was concerned over alleged police brutality against peaceful demonstrators in India.
"That said, India is a democracy, and we count on India to exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest," Nuland said, responding to a question about planned protests against corruption Aug 16, 2011.
Team Anna Hazare has declared they will go ahead with an indefinite fast in New Delhi beginning Aug 16 for a stronger Lokpal (ombudsman) bill, and has called for tightening the draft anti-corruption legislation.
The US comments did not go down well with New Delhi. "We have seen the needless comments by the US State Department spokesperson on handling of peaceful protests in India," Vishnu Prakash, the spokesperson of India's external affairs ministry, told reporters here in response to a question.
"Freedoms of speech and expression, as well as of peaceful assembly, are enshrined in the Constitution of India and exercised by citizens of this country of 1.2 billion people," he said. However, in her Independence Day message, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held India as a powerful example of what people can achieve through peaceful means.
"India's independence movement and the inspirational leadership of Mahatma Gandhi still move people to be the change that they want to see in the world," Clinton said in a message of best wishes on India's Independence Day.
"At this time of profound change and hope for millions of people, India's story stands as a powerful example of what people can achieve through the peaceful pursuit of inalienable rights," she said.
Meanwhile, The government is ready for talks on the Lokpal bill but it is for civil society leader Anna Hazare to decide, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday.
"It is for Hazare to decide (whether to take part in the discussion)," Chidambaram told a press conference here. Asked if the proposed fast by Hazare here from Aug 16 will be permitted, Chidambaram said the police will decide. Chidambaram said there was no deal between the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on conducting parliament business. Source: IANS
India, US spar over Anna fast
Comment: Will criminal Lawyers and corrupt Politicians ruling the roost will ever allow a strong Lokpal Bill to be Passed by the Parliament?

March for Janlokpal

WHY
Dear friends, People in power have proved that they don't want a strong anti-corruption law because it will stop them from looting the nation. We cannot let this happen and we need to take affirmative action to ensure that people win this battle. Anna Hazare has decided to give a final and decisive push to Janlokpal by announcing his indefinite fast from 16th August. India needs to be awakened to come out on streets on 16th August. Its time to walk the talk!
We invite friends who would like to lead/organise/coordinate a March from their own city.

HOW AND WHEN August 1 to August 10
A mass mobilization programme across the country in the form of long marches is being planned starting August 1. These marches will originate from different cities and city coordinators are requested to plan one starting from their own city. For instance, the first march will start from Delhi on August 1 and end in Meerut (55 km) on the next day. Civil society leaders like Arvind Kejriwal will participate in this march. Several marches have already been planned in different cities of UP (starting from their own cities and culminating in Lucknow/Kanpur). In Maharashtra a march is being planned from Pune to Ralegan Sidhi.

LOGISTICS AND PREPARATION
A person can easily walk upto 25-35 kms in a day. Keeping this fact in mind and the time at your hand, plan a march of 50-200 km (2-8 days), work out the route/itinerary and inform us. Sole objective of this march is to make people aware of this historic movement and to urge them to participate in it actively. You will need some posters/banners and pamphlets for the march. Many of you already have these, in case you don’t, we will send you the files and you can get them printed as per your convenience.
While marching, make sure you have regular stopovers where you can interact with local people. Try to walk as much as possible during the morning and evening while keep the afternoon for rest and relaxation. Also, do share your plan with the local media, once you have informed us of the plan, we will push it in the national media in Delhi.
Politicians of all colours regularly undertake such walks for power and support, but this time India will walk for a better and corruption-free India!!! Spread the word.
Ideas and suggestions are most welcome.
Email: padyatra2011@gmail.com
Mobile: 9971900424, 8009664058
March for Janlokpal

MPs panel slams army practice of soldiers as assistants

The Indian Army is facing the ire of a parliamentary panel over its continuing practice of employing trained soldiers as sahayaks (personal assistants) of officers.
New Delhi |Wednesday, 2011 6:35:06 PM IST
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on defence strongly condemned the system of employing sahayaks to carry out menial domestic chores of officers in one of its reports about three years ago. It has for the third time now slammed the defence ministry for defending the practice and for not heeding its recommendation of abolishing it.

The report on 'stress management in the armed forces', 31st by the committee during the 14th Lok Sabha, has said the sahayak system was "inhuman". It has also stated that the trained soldiers were for fighting wars for the country and they should be used only for such purposes and not stationed at the residences of officers.

But the committee's current report on the budgetary demands for grants, presented to the Lok Sabha Wednesday, said it "places on record the anguish over the disrespect of one of their important recommendation" to abolish the system.

The committee, headed by Congress MP Satpal Maharaj, has also declared that the defence ministry owed it an explanation for not implementing the recommendation.

Dismissing the repeated justification of the defence ministry that the sahayak system was a necessity, the committee said it was "not convinced" with the reasoning given by the defence ministry that the army personnel functioned in pairs and the soldier was the buddy of the officer.
--Indo-Asian News Service ncb/rn/vt
MPs panel slams army practice of soldiers as assistants
Comment: The Buddy system draws a flak. There is no justification for having Sahayaks in Peace Stations and Training Institutions. Senior Officers (Red Tabs) should set the trend and shed this Buddy system in Peace Stations and Cantonments.