[HumJanenge] Vigilance Cases against Odisha IAS officers

Vigilance  Cases  against Odisha  IAS officers

Dear friends

On 19.5.2011, I had  submitted RTI Application  to the PIO, Office of Directorate, State Vigilance, Odisha  seeking information about details of  vigilance cases  filed  against IAS officers . The information sought for as follows.

a. Please provide  name of IAS Officers against  whom  vigilance charges  has been filed  by Vigilance Dept during 2001-2010

b. What are the  charges of allegations  leveled against them by Vigilance.

C. Please provide the information about  name of IAS officers  against whom the Vigilance has sought  permission  from State Govt.  to charge sheet them.

d.  Please provide the information  about details of permission granted  by Govt.  to file  charge-sheet  against the IAS officers and their names. 

The PIO supplied  the information of first three points  and  refused  to provide the information of  fourth one  on the ground of section 8 (1)(h) of the RTI Act. The said provision stipulates that "Information which would impede  the process of investigation  or apprehension  or prosecution of offenders can not  be supplied" .

  Finding  incomplete information,  I made  Complaint  to Odisha Information Commission  on dated 25.7.2011 appealing   to Commission to provide  me information and take punitive action against the PIO  for  denial of information.

 

After 8 months, Mr. Tarun Kanti Mishra, State Chief Information Commissioner remanded my case ( CC No- 3010/2011)  on 15.3.2012 to  the 1^st Appellate Authority, office of Director, Vigilance, Cuttack to dispose the case. The Inspector General of Police-cum- 1^st Appellate Authority, Vigilance  heard the case,  dismissed  the  plea of section  8(1)(h)  of RTI Act  as ground for denial of information taken  by the  PIO  and  provided the following  information on 10.4.2012.

 

Sl. No.	Name of IAS Officers	No. of cases  in which Govt. permission was sought  to submit charge-sheet	Details of permission granted  by Govt.	Pending with Govt.
1	Sri Rabindra Mohan Senapati , IAS (retired)	01	Refused	-
2	Sri Santosh Kumar Mishra, IAS	06	06	-
3	Sri Sanjeeb Kumar Ray, IAS	01	01	-
4	Sri Pradulla Chandra Mishra,IAS	03	01	02
5	Sri Vinod Kumar, IAS	24	21	03
6	Sri. S.N.Tripathy, IAS	03	Govt. did  not consider  those three  cases as fit  for according sanction	-
7	Sri. R.N. Senapati, IAS	08	Govt. did  not consider  those eight cases as fit  for according sanction.	-
8	Sri Nikunja Kishore Sundaray, IAS	01	-	01
9	Dr. Prasant Kumar Pradhan, IAS	01	-	01
10	Sri. I. Srinivas, IAS	01	Govt. did  not consider   it  fit  case  for according sanction	-

 

 

Regards

 

Pradip Pradhan

M-99378-43482

Date-13.5.2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RE: [HumJanenge] DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

Congratulations. Keep it up. Govt. must comply by the mandatory provisions of Sections 12(5) and 15(5) of RTI Act, as the case may be. There is  a Madras High Court also on the provision, now in SLP before Supreme Court.

                        KN

 

 

 

 

 

From the Desk of :

Justice Kamleshwar Nath

Retd.	:	Up-Lokayukta ( Karnataka ), Vice Chairman – C.A.T ( Allahabad ), Judge – High Court ( Lucknow & Allahabad )
Address	:	`Gunjan', C - 105, Niralanagar, Lucknow : 226 020. Uttar Pradesh, India
Phone(s)	:	+91-522-2789033 & +91-522-4016459. Mobile : +91-9415010746

 

---

From: humjanenge@googlegroups.com [mailto:humjanenge@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of M.K. Gupta
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 9:11 PM
To: RTI Act 2005 Hum Janenge Forum People's Right to Information
Subject: [HumJanenge] DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

 

DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

 

APPOINTMENT OF A. N. TIWRI AS CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

 

 

Yesterday, the Delhi High Court has issued a show-cause notice to the Secy. DoPT, Govt. of India to inform why contempt proceedings should not be started against him for non-compliance of its ourder?  The Court has asked to reply be 30^th July on the pleadings made by Shri Prashant Bhushan.   The High Court had earlier ordered to fulfil the vacant posts of five Central Information Commissioner but the govt. has filled only 3 posts.

 

2.       Regarding the appointment of Chief Information Commissioner after the appointment of Shri A.N. Tiwari in second half of 2010, I, interalia, asked about the names of the short-listed candidates considered for the post and whether the short listing and selection criteria will be made public by uploading the same on the DoPT website or by other means. 

 

3.       On not getting any satisfactory reply, I filed appeal before the CIC which was to be heard on 25^th April, 2012 by Shri Satyananada Mishra, Chief Information Commissioner. One day before that, on 24^th April, I received a letter that the hearing has been postponed to 21^st May and no reason of postponing the same has been given.  It may be possible that the DoPT may have sought postponement.  Now, let us see the outcome of the appeal on 21^st.  This case is important. 

Re: [HumJanenge] DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

Dear Mr. Gupta: This is very good news. However, I hope the court instead of merely putting out a show cause notice, will impose some deterrence, say a fine of 50 lacs or 1 crore.  Its only then that these neta & babu types will wake up to their responsibilities. Regards, Victor --- On Thu, 5/10/12, M.K. Gupta <mkgupta100@yahoo.co.in> wrote: From: M.K. Gupta <mkgupta100@yahoo.co.in> Subject: [HumJanenge] DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS To: "RTI Act 2005 Hum Janenge Forum People's Right to Information" <humjanenge@googlegroups.com> Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 8:40 AM DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS   APPOINTMENT OF A. N. TIWRI AS CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER     Yesterday, the Delhi High Court has issued a show-cause notice to the Secy. DoPT, Govt. of India to inform why contempt proceedings should not be started against him for non-compliance of its ourder?  The Court has asked to reply be 30th July on the pleadings made by Shri Prashant Bhushan.   The High Court had earlier ordered to fulfil the vacant posts of five Central Information Commissioner but the govt. has filled only 3 posts.   2.       Regarding the appointment of Chief Information Commissioner after the appointment of Shri A.N. Tiwari in second half of 2010, I, interalia, asked about the names of the short-listed candidates considered for the post and whether the short listing and selection criteria will be made public by uploading the same on the DoPT website or by other means.    3.       On not getting any satisfactory reply, I filed appeal before the CIC which was to be heard on 25th April, 2012 by Shri Satyananada Mishra, Chief Information Commissioner. One day before that, on 24th April, I received a letter that the hearing has been postponed to 21st May and no reason of postponing the same has been given.  It may be possible that the DoPT may have sought postponement.  Now, let us see the outcome of the appeal on 21st.  This case is important.

[HumJanenge] FATE OF GOVT. ASSURANCE IN LOK SABHA

FATE OF GOVT. ASSURANCES IN LOK SABHA

On 12.03.2010, Sh. Mahabal Mishra, MP, Lok Sabha asked about the time by which the plots to remaining registrants of Rohini Residential Scheme are likely to be allotted. In reply to this, the Shri Saugata Rao, Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development, "DDA has further informed that 16,000 plots, which are under development in five sectors in Rohini, would be allotted to the waiting registrants in a time span of about 18 months" and that the balance, approximately 9,000 waiting registrants, would be allotted plots in about three years time after development of three additional sectors. The time span of about 18 months was over in Sept. 2011 and not even a single plot has been allotted by that time. On attracting the attention of the Chairperson of the Assurance Committee on Govt. Assurances towards the unfulfilled assurances, K. Kona, Under Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat in its reply has informed "As per record of the Committee on Government Assurances Branch, these replies have not been treated as assurances". (The applicant has also drawn the attention of the Committee towards some other assurances also on this issue). If that is the case, what is the use and value of the aforesaid assurance given by the Govt on behalf of the DDA? This shows the manner in which the Committee on Govt. Assurances treats the clear assurance given by the Minister.

ANOTHER ASSURANCE:

In the strarred question No. 162 on 5^th December, 1983, Shri Nihal Singh, M.P. Lok Sabha said that Govt. promised to allot plots within five years to all the registrants but  only 20,000 registrants have been allotted plots in two draws so far. He said, it means that 90% registrants are still awaiting and by when all the registrants will be alloted the plots, the rates may be doubled. He asked the Minister of Works and Housing whether the plots will be allotted at the rates declared at the time of inviting the applications.

To this, Shri Buta Singh, the then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Sports and Works and Housing assured, "About the price, it has been given out by DDA when it was registered, and it will be same as decided on the date of registration."

 

The Minister has said clearly that "it has been ………………….. date of registration." The DDA itself has not fulfilled its own assurance and charged much higher rates in the draws held at different invervals and therefore is guilty of breaching of assurance made by the Govt. in the Lok Sabha, The million-dollar question is "Who is Supreme, DDA, Govt or the Lok Sabha?  The Rohini Association has informed about this to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mrs. Meira Kumar. Will the LS take action against the DDA for bringing the Govt. and the House to disrepute?  Rohini Association has also sent letters on this to the Union Minister of Urban Development, Shri. Kamal Nath, State Min. Shri Saugata Roy, Lt. Governoer/ Chairman, DDA, Vice Chairman, DDA and others.

[HumJanenge] FACE VALUE OF ASSURANCE GIVEN BY THE GOVT. IN THE LOK SABHA

On 12.03.2010, Sh. Mahabal Mishra, MP, Lok Sabha asked about the time by which the plots to remaining registrants of Rohini Residential Scheme are likely to be allotted. In reply to this, the Minister told, "DDA has further informed that 16,000 plots, which are under development in five sectors in Rohini, would be allotted to the waiting registrants in a time span of about 18 months". The time span of about 18 months was over in Sept. 2011. Now, the Lok Sabha Secretariat in its reply to RTI application dated 8.5.12 has informed that the reply of the Minister has not been treated as assurance. If that is the case, what is the value of the reply by the Govt? Assn. will be grateful if any member can suggest the next course of action in this context. What else it can be called than hoodwinking of the Lok Sabha and registrants by the govt.?

Re: [HumJanenge] Tragic passing away of Mr. Ravinder Balwani

This is very sad and also highlights courageous attitude of evil forces to retain corruption and the corrupt in disguise of white collar respected gentlemen.  My heart felt condolences to affected near ones and dear ones. CIC too should strongest possible action with not the attitude "our job is restricted to information only."  S. K. Jain --- On Wed, 9/5/12, N.K. Handa <nk.handa@yahoo.com> wrote: From: N.K. Handa <nk.handa@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [HumJanenge] Tragic passing away of Mr. Ravinder Balwani To: "humjanenge@googlegroups.com" <humjanenge@googlegroups.com> Date: Wednesday, 9 May, 2012, 7:09 AM It is shocking to learn about the sad demise of Shri Balwani who stood like a rock in the matter of IFCI.  He got IFCI declared as a Public Authority by the single judge of the hon'ble High Court of Delhi but IFCI contested before the Division Bench which was scheduled to hear the case finally.  My heart felt condolences to the bereaved family and to all friends and well wishers. From: Sarbajit Roy <sroy.mb@gmail.com> To: humjanenge <humjanenge@googlegroups.com> Sent: Wednesday, 9 May 2012 12:11 AM Subject: [HumJanenge] Tragic passing away of Mr. Ravinder Balwani Dear HJ Members I am grieved to inform you that Shri Ravinder Balwani, one of the leading lights of Delhi's RTI movement for a very long time, passed away in an accident on 26 April 2012. His daughter can be contacted at "sonia.balwani@gmail.com" Mr Balwani was a fighter par excellence with a unique interpretation of RTI Act and has many Delhi High Court judgments in his favour. For eg. he got IFCI declared as a pubic authority and he got the LokAyukkta of Delhi to enquire into corruption allegations against the Delhi RTI Act Appellate Authority. Sarbajit

[HumJanenge] DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

DELHI HIGH COURT ISSUES NOTICE FOR INITIATING CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS

 

APPOINTMENT OF A. N. TIWRI AS CHIEF INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

 

 

Yesterday, the Delhi High Court has issued a show-cause notice to the Secy. DoPT, Govt. of India to inform why contempt proceedings should not be started against him for non-compliance of its ourder?  The Court has asked to reply be 30^th July on the pleadings made by Shri Prashant Bhushan.   The High Court had earlier ordered to fulfil the vacant posts of five Central Information Commissioner but the govt. has filled only 3 posts.

 

2.       Regarding the appointment of Chief Information Commissioner after the appointment of Shri A.N. Tiwari in second half of 2010, I, interalia, asked about the names of the short-listed candidates considered for the post and whether the short listing and selection criteria will be made public by uploading the same on the DoPT website or by other means. 

 

3.       On not getting any satisfactory reply, I filed appeal before the CIC which was to be heard on 25^th April, 2012 by Shri Satyananada Mishra, Chief Information Commissioner. One day before that, on 24^th April, I received a letter that the hearing has been postponed to 21^st May and no reason of postponing the same has been given.  It may be possible that the DoPT may have sought postponement.  Now, let us see the outcome of the appeal on 21^st.  This case is important. 

[HumJanenge] Fwd: "DO YOU THINK YOU DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY?"_ A QUESTION TO SOLDIERS.

A Good Question I would never have imagined would ever be asked.

The down slide to this state has come about due to constant tinkering by Politico Bureaucratic combine neglecting the most important ingredient of the Indian state. 

Sounds boring? Monotonous? Typical Veteran stuff?

Well EVEN THEN its true. 

Those of us who can see the writing on the wall can only feel fear. Fear that IF an immediate U Turn is not affected and corrective measures not instituted by Organizational Reforms, the constant tinkering with the only fully functional and efficient organ of Indian state will ONLY lead to first weakening and then disintegration of us as an independent democratic nation that we are today. One need not be a genius to realize the disastrous significance of the Red corridor, Naxals, insurgents in J&K etc in the dangers that loom.

And what is our response? 

Petty turf games. Brownie points. Doing down the Armed Forces, which rightfully should be our enemy's role/ desire/ mission. 

Vinash Kale Viprit Budhi. 

Some of us are grateful we may not be around when 1962 repeats. But our children would be. 

Is that what they meant by "History Repeats itself?" 

.

An excellent write up by  Col Virender Pal Singh. He has written from the heart, and as a soldier painted true picture.
 

 

 "DO YOU THINK YOU DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY?"-A QUESTION TO SOLDIERS?

Anatole France once asked a soldier, " Do you think you die for your country?"  When the soldier replied in the affirmative, he said, " Wrong! You die for the INDUSTRIALISTS."

I would, in the Indian context, like to modify his suggestion to read as : WRONG, YOU DIE FOR THE CORRUPT, UNGRATEFUL and UNCONCERNED.  Bureaucrats and politicians head this list, followed by bulk of unscrupulous businessmen who would qualify to be included in the list.

Soldiers, today, must learn that they NO MORE fight a Nation's wars but the conflicts started by inept, inefficient and incompetent BUREAUCRACY of India, in league with self-centered, greedy and corrupt politicians.

You ask me to explain it. My answer is very simple. All internal and external problems of India are created by lack of vision and thought bankruptcy on strategic matters by two sets of people who rule India, namely, BUREAUCRATS and POLITICIANS:
-From Nagaland in the fifties to Mizoram in the sixties; 
-from Assam in the seventies to Punjab and J&K in the eighties;
-from Mumbai riots in the early nineties to Mumbai attack in 2008;
-from communal riots in Gujarat  to the same in Andhra & Karnataka;
-from killing fields of BIhar and UP to mafia murders in Mumbai; 
-from 'MANDAL' issue to 'KAMANDA'L issue;
-from demolition of BABRI MASJID to burning of TRAIN in GODHARA;
-from Naxalite hooliganism to Communalist mayhem since independence;
all this and much more owe themselves to the misdeeds of an unholy nexus between the bureaucrats and politicians, who govern this country.

Whether it was the Indo-Pak  wars in1947, 1965 and 1971 or 'WAR LIKE SITUATION 'in Kargil  in 1999 or even Operation PAWAN in Sri Lanka in the late eighties and the Chinese invasion of 1962-----my dear departed comrades: you did not die for the nation; instead, you gave your lives so as to cover the callous mistakes of these people. You are dead and gone. But  no one remembers you other than some rantings on these annual rituals, called 'Vijay Divas' or the 'VICTORY DAY".

If there is a natural calamity in the country---army is called in.
If law and order goes awry, soldiers are roped in.
If a child gets stuck in a bore-well pit, soldiers are mustered to save the innocent life.
BUT,No one punishes the guys responsible for such acts of omission and commission.
In the bargain, if a soldier loses a life, they play-act a drama, as if they care too much but none does.

There are many a widows of soldiers, who are fighting their lonely battles----- ----no one is coming forward to help them except some ESM organisations such as IESL and IESM---whom no one listens to---not even the army.

Once NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, while in Germany, had made a remark on the army's recent projection of anomalies in the Sixth Pay Commission. He retorted to the questioner," Don't worry we will sort out the bast**ds" or words to that effect. He did not know that MILITARY ATTACHE was also listening and who, then, faxed it to his chief.  You know what happened then. The three chiefs walked up to the PM with resignation letters in hand. 

The recent case of OROP(One rank One Pension) is an interesting testimony to how bureaucracy fools everyone. Don't you know the way the soldiers have been fooled by this announcement in the parliament by our respectable Finance Minister on July 6 2009, when he vociferously announced implementation of  ONE RANK ONE PENSION for the armed forces. Undoubtedly, it was an attempt to divide soldiers by announcing it ONLY for  PBOR (PERSONS BELOW OFFICERS RANK). The govt has, thus, tried to create a wedge amongst officers and PBOR.  Even the so called grant of OROP to PBOR is a fallacy.Unfortunately the UPA government is trying to exploit this by allowing some ex- Major in Delhi distributing leaflets on this. It is an utter nonsense. What the government has done is to bring at par the pre-96 retirees with pre- 2006 retirees, which is only a miniscule segment of pensioners. The bulk of the pensioners lay in the post-1996 and pre-2006 category, which has been left untouched by the government. This is how our bureaucracy makes fool out of everyone and this is how the politicians willingly play into the hands of bureaucrats. I bet if Pranab Mukerji knows as to what harm he has done to the armed forces by approving  this Machiavellian strategy of bureaucrats. To them, it is NOT the NATIONAL INTERESTS that matter but their PERSONAL INTERESTS.

They had done the same thing during implementation and formulation of proposals for armed forces by SIXTH PAY COMMISSION. It is only due to near-rebellious situation in the armed forces that the govt reluctantly accepted it. Now the same bureaucrats have played another dirty trick with the army and the ESM. They do not realise by tampering with the ARMED FORCES and its disciplined ethics, they are endangering the security and integrity of the nation.

Just imagine what happens, if the armed forces whither away like police or any other government organization! Bureaucrats and politicians have broken the back of police and made them ineffective. Thus Law and order has become a serious problem. Like Committed bureaucracy and committed police officials--- -they want soldiers also to be committed to political parties. If it happens, your national security be damned. THERE IS A VITAL NEED TO KEEP THE ARMED FORCES APOLITICAL. But some wise Congressmen think KARGIL-99 was not their war but BJPs---similarly BJP will think that 1971 or 1965 wars were not theirs but of the Congress. What happens to soldiers?They too are being cultivated to divide the army. Would Congress's soldiers like to die for BJP's  war? The question is ridiculous but this is what Mr Rashid----- a Congress MP, meant when he ridiculed the celebrations of VIJAY DIVAS. No congressman asked him to shut up. How disgusting.

Often, I hear a logic, that one joins armed forces voluntarily and that no one forced them to join. Very right. This very logic has affected the military ethos. You do not get the quality material any more because  of this lopsided thinking. Therefore there are aberrations ---corruption cases---rapes- --misbehaviour- --hooliganism- ---extortion and what not by some officers and soldiers. It is still under control---but if you  continue to ignore them, certainly he would ask the question:
WHY SHOULD I DIE FOR THESE PEOPLE? IS IT WORTH  LAYING DOWN ONE's LIFE FOR SUCH SELF CENTERED PEOPLE?

Most of our soldiers come from rural poor backgrounds  and they still think of their poor families before they do any act which might affect their family honour. Therefore, they not only tolerate all sorts of nonsense but also accept the professional hardships. Their tolerance limits are much more than the soldiers of other armies.

They suffer the vagaries of weather and man-made conditions silently. In 1962, they fought the Chinese with point 303 rifles with just 50 rounds---they went to snow covered high altitude mountains in their summer clothing. They died. They were injured but they did not rebel. It was exploitation of their impoverished background by the nation. Giving medals and awards to a few does not ameliorate the pain of many others whose deaths go unnoticed and uncared.

The question is how long the nation and the army can keep its soldiers in the 'DENIAL MODE' from their LEGITIMATE DUES and RIGHTS?  Today's soldiers are more aware of their rights and privileges. Education and literacy is making them INDIVIDUALISTIC.  Time is NOT far when they would behave like the EDUCATED SOLDIERS---- Yes, its implications must be understood by all and sundry---even the army.

They will question every one--from their own bosses to governmental orders. THEY WILL NO MORE BE SOLDIERS OF THE 'LIGHT BRIGADE'---WHO WILL AUTOMATICALLY  MARCH INTO THE 'VALLEY OF DEATH' WHILE THE BULLETS FLY LEFT AND RIGHT OF THEM.  They will no more sing the hymn: THERE IS NOT TO REASON WHY; THEIRS IS BUT TO DO AND DIE. Therefore , please do understand that  ignoring SOLDIER's MARTYRDOM and his SACRIFICES was going to be very costly for this nation. Nation has to pay the PREMIUM for the SOLDIER's SACRIFICES and MARTYRDOM. Nation has to pay this premium for its own security and safety. It is NO FAVOUR nation is doing to its soldiers---whether they joined voluntarily or due to some economic pressures.

The words of General Douglas Mac Arthur, US army Chief in 1931 echo in my ears, when he told president Franklin Roosevelt, "Mr President, when in the next war, an American soldier lay on the ground with enemy bayonet slicing his abdomen and spat out his last curse, I do not want the name to be Mac Arthur but ROOSEVELT". It is no point emphasizing that president Roosevelt gave to the army what he wanted. And second world war is a testimony that US army tilted the balance in favour of Allied Powers.

Therefore. I reiterate that dues of indian soldiers must be given. The nation must do it. If you do not do this then the ULTIMATE WILL HAPPEN-----as a URDU SHAYAR had said, " GAR AB BHI NA SAMJHOGE AYE HINDOSTAN WALO---TUMHARI DASTAAN TAK BHI NA HOGI DAASTAANO MEIN"( If you do not mend your ways O' Indians, you shall evaporate and not exist even in History books).  Take it from me, there will be no more SAFE INDUSTRIES-- -THERE WILL BE NO MORE JET FLYING 'CEOs' and smooth talking corporate managers or the GLOBE TROTTING IT's WONDER BOYS  IN INDIA------- ---THERE WILL BE NO MORE SAFE HOMES FOR YOU TO INDULGE IN BLOGGING ON SULEKHA----- --IN FACT, THERE WILL BE NO MORE INDIA AS IT EXISTS TODAY. Decide what you want.

The last bastion of India's UNITY and INTEGRITY is waiting to DISINTEGRATE because of CONSTANT TAMPERING WITH it by BUREAUCRACY and POLITICIANS.

Indian army has been fighting for 60 years in Nagaland and other North East States---it has been holding Assam, Kashmir and Punjab for you for the last  25 to 30 years. Despite all this there are no major cribs against it, other than media hyped non-sense by vested interests by which some of you get influenced. Remember, Soldiers are not saints---there will be aberrations but the track record of Indian armed forces is much better than most of the armies.

I am appalled to see some debates on Sulekha which talk about wrong doings in the army. Most of it is based upon misinformation- -but even if there was any misdeed army is prompt to act and punish the guilty---you know about TEHELKA expose and what Army did later. Who else did it and who else does it?

Haven't you heard the recent murder of a youth in Baramulla? There was KASHMIR BANDH on this on the plea that he was killed by the army. Now it has turned out that he was killed by his friends for money. Such manipulations against army are quite common in insurgency infected areas.

All cases of alleged rapes are speedily dealt with---most of them turn out to be motivated allegations. When you ask soldiers to search for militants at the dead of a night in a village----such rubbish will be attributed to them. Even if some soldiers misbehave--- take it, they are NO HOLY MEN. If you want to avoid such incidents--- ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO SEND THE ARMY BACK TO BARRACKS. This is what the SEPARATISTS and the MILITANTS want---If some of you, educated elites of SULEKHA are going to play into the hands of the SEPARATISTS of KASHMIR like this and believe in their motivated propaganda-- -----then, also be prepared for them to walk into your homes one day and there would be none to check them.

Look at  the record of Pakistan army in Bangla Desh in 1970. More than 10 million people had become refugees; many lakhs perished and thousands of women were raped and hundreds of children maimed. Just have a glance at Sri Lanks'a recently concluded operations against LTTE. what has NOT come out about thousands of CIVILIANS of TAMIL ORIGIN who were killed.  Look at what the PAKISTAN ARMY has done in SWAT? Some 3 million people have been rendered homeless. There is no independent check of army's claims of killing some 1000 Taliban ( there were only 4000)---No top leader has been killed or arrested.

Compare the track record of Indian army against this back drop.

Now, read "CRISIS IN COMMAND" by RICHARD GABRIEL and PAUL SAVAGE to know the track record of US army in VIETNAM in the 60s & 70s of the last century. If still not convinced then it would be interesting  for you to know of US army's recent misdeeds in IRAQ in the years 2007 &2008. Here is the link:-

http://news. yahoo.com/ s/ap/20090727/ ap_on_re_ us/us_soldier_ slayings

Here are some excerpts from this link:-

"------------ -------Several soldiers said unit discipline deteriorated while in Iraq.------- ---------"Toward the end, we were so mad and tired and frustrated," said Daniel Freeman. "You came too close, we lit you up. You didn't stop, we ran your car over with the Bradley," an armored fighting vehicle.---- --------- With each roadside bombing, soldiers would fire in all directions "and just light the whole area up," said Anthony Marquez, a friend of Freeman in the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment. "If anyone was around, that was their fault. We smoked 'em.--------- ---------"

"------------ --------- -Taxi drivers got shot for no reason, and others were dropped off bridges after interrogations, said Marcus Mifflin, who was eventually discharged with post traumatic stress syndrome.

"You didn't get blamed unless someone could be absolutely sure you did something wrong," he said "------------ --------Soldiers interviewed by The Gazette cited lengthy deployments, being sent back into battle after surviving war injuries that would have been fatal in previous conflicts, and engaging in some of the bloodiest combat in Iraq. The soldiers describing those experiences were part of the 3,500-soldier unit now called the 4th Infantry Division's 4th Brigade Combat Team.------- --------- -Since 2005, some brigade soldiers also have been involved in brawls, beatings, rapes, DUIs, drug deals, domestic violence, shootings, stabbings, kidnapping and suicides.

------------ -------The unit was deployed for a year to Iraq's Sunni Triangle in September 2004. Sixty-four unit soldiers were killed and more than 400 wounded — about double the average for Army brigades in Iraq, according to Fort Carson. In 2007, the unit served a bloody 15-month mission in Baghdad. It's currently deployed to the Khyber Pass region in Afghanistan- --------- --------- --------- ."

Now talk about the Indian army and its track record. It is sixty year for this army to hold your nation together from Nagaland to Kashmir and J&K to Kanya Kumari. It has been involved in wars---low intensity conflicts--- militancy /terrorism-- -----flood reliefs---children rescue----earthquak e relief----you name a damn thing where you have not called your army---how many INDIANS have been rendered home less. It has fought four and a half wars (Kargil was somewhat a war) for you.

Some thousands of soldiers have laid down their lives in these wars and operations --------they have left their widowed wives; orphaned children; helpless mothers, sobbing sisters and wailing fathers in your care for, they had faith in you.

Would they have sacrificed their lives if they had an iota of doubt on your sincerity? They fulfilled their part of the CONTRACT  by laying down their lives for your safety, honour and security. Why are you retracting from your part of the contract?  Please ensure they are not to be ridiculed and slighted as you are doing it today.

I insist soldiers are no saints---they are from the same society----as you all are----while you have gone astray-----I mean the society----how do you expect them to remain holy men? if soldiers are running berserk at times---it is the social system which is to be blamed which has begun to TREAT THEM AS DOORMATS. 
Reform the society first. Stop this unwanted criticism--- else you break this institution as a back lash by the soldiers who will ask:

WHY SHOULD I DIE FOR THESE PEOPLE?

--
THROUGH MUD AND BLOOD, TO THE GREEN FIELDS BEYOND
 

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Re: [HumJanenge] Tragic passing away of Mr. Ravinder Balwani

It is shocking to learn about the sad demise of Shri Balwani who stood like a rock in the matter of IFCI.  He got IFCI declared as a Public Authority by the single judge of the hon'ble High Court of Delhi but IFCI contested before the Division Bench which was scheduled to hear the case finally.  My heart felt condolences to the bereaved family and to all friends and well wishers.

---

From: Sarbajit Roy <sroy.mb@gmail.com>
To: humjanenge <humjanenge@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, 9 May 2012 12:11 AM
Subject: [HumJanenge] Tragic passing away of Mr. Ravinder Balwani

Dear HJ Members

I am grieved to inform you that Shri Ravinder Balwani, one of the
leading lights of Delhi's RTI movement for a very long time, passed
away in an accident on 26 April 2012. His daughter can be contacted at
"sonia.balwani@gmail.com"

Mr Balwani was a fighter par excellence with a unique interpretation
of RTI Act and has many Delhi High Court judgments in his favour. For
eg. he got IFCI declared as a pubic authority and he got the
LokAyukkta of Delhi to enquire into corruption allegations against the
Delhi RTI Act Appellate Authority.

Sarbajit

[HumJanenge] Tragic passing away of Mr. Ravinder Balwani

Dear HJ Members

I am grieved to inform you that Shri Ravinder Balwani, one of the
leading lights of Delhi's RTI movement for a very long time, passed
away in an accident on 26 April 2012. His daughter can be contacted at
"sonia.balwani@gmail.com"

Mr Balwani was a fighter par excellence with a unique interpretation
of RTI Act and has many Delhi High Court judgments in his favour. For
eg. he got IFCI declared as a pubic authority and he got the
LokAyukkta of Delhi to enquire into corruption allegations against the
Delhi RTI Act Appellate Authority.

Sarbajit

Re: [HumJanenge] How can we Prevent the On-going Blunders in India - Is RTI Helpful ?

Hi Sarbajit,

Supporting your mechanism full and final, I want to share with the members of HJ as to how I have in the past since Mar 2010 been writing to top serving babus i.e.,  plg commission chief, secy plg commission, secy DoT, chairman TRAI, secy I&B and jt secy I&B. My mails to them have been centric to only one ubiquitous theme "unless the country views Telecom Media and Techmology (TMT) infrastructure as a vital one both for GDP growth and reducing corruption through national e governance, we are doomed for ever". Two out of the six babus have agreed to the assertion in private, one laughed at me in the open forum only to be snubbed by the other babu attending as a panelist in the same forum who saw merit in it, three have been non responsive.  

Sarbajit ji, unlike my mails which have been suggestive in nature, your mails will be packed with ultimate power punch covering much larger canvas and accompany the startling facts obtained through authentic sources by you through your tireless efforts including using RTI intelligently and sent from the desk of very respectful fraternity. Babus are bound to take notice. Ignoring these mails will be at their own peril. Mails are considered indelible records even in legal process. No one can refute that they did not receive or did not see the mails.   

All the best and all of us are hopeful that this mechanism would bring some change. 

 

Jai Hind

With warm regards,

Col Mahesh Khera

---

From: Ramesh Agnani <agnanir@yahoo.com>
To: "humjanenge@googlegroups.com" <humjanenge@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, 6 May 2012 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: [HumJanenge] How can we Prevent the On-going Blunders in India - Is RTI Helpful ?

Dear Sarabjit ji,

 

I also volunteer for the cause.

 

Rgds

 

Major Ramesh Agnani(Retd)
Consultant(Telecom and Networking)
Telnet Consultants Pvt. Ltd.,
Tele : 011 - 25770693, Mob : 98111 18546

From: Balbir Kataria <balbirkataria@yahoo.com>
To: "humjanenge@googlegroups.com" <humjanenge@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, 5 May 2012, 15:31
Subject: Re: [HumJanenge] How can we Prevent the On-going Blunders in India - Is RTI Helpful ?

Dear Sarbajit ji,

Good thought. I am a volunteer.

Regards

 

Maj General Balbir K Kataria

From: Sarbajit Roy <sroy.mb@gmail.com>
To: humjanenge@googlegroups.com
Sent: Friday, 4 May 2012 8:50 PM
Subject: Re: [HumJanenge] How can we Prevent the On-going Blunders in India - Is RTI Helpful ?

Dear Mahesh

Messages from this RTI related forum go out to about 10,000 persons.

The "10 million" reference is about another of my social work
associations which is
not connected with RTI, (but with A) nation building as per Indian
tradition B) Elimination of corrupt persons).

As we can all sense, l and I'm sure nobody will deny it, the Indian
people are sheep who can be easily brainwashed, controlled by foreign
parasites, and easily led astray into wasting their time in blind
alleys and useless activities. (ie. "Lotus Eaters"). It is only our
Defence forces which have held the nation together (until now). After
retirement most of glorious IESMs revert to mean and indulge in Lotus
Eating activities.

If even 50 of our IESM members volunteer to send just 2 emails
(drafted by me) to babus (selected by me) ONCE a MONTH,  we will
witness change taking place before our eyes and in our lifetimes.

Screw social media and public battles - those are for Lotus Eating
NGOs.  Patriots execute covert actions against precise targets based
on proper intelligence.

For instance, I want 50 volunteers to send an email (which I have
already sent in my own name) to the Babus concerning how 8,000
Ministry of Defence computers were hacked by the Chinese and the babus
are still fighting over who will investigate the matter. No
investigation has taken place and 1000's of Top Secret files of Army
and Assam Rifles were sucked out of MoD computers and these computers
are still connected to the Internet leaking away to our Enemy No.1.

After this I want to send an email about a recent CONFIDENTAIL Cabinet
Secretariat project which re-employs retired babus at per-diems of Rs.
5,000 per day with stay in 4 star hotels in Delhi and regular to=fro
air tickets etc. The names of the people selected are an eye opener.

Sarbajit

On 5/3/12, Mahesh Khera <mkkhera@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear Friends,
>
> US, Canada, China, Korea, 26 EU nations and 10 other developed nations are
> on a high speed irrevocable growth path of encouraging and implementing
> Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT) infrastructure. This infrastructure has
> been growing their economies as also helping them to lead mostly a
> corruption free life. All this is due to their educated, mature, relatively
> honest and committed political leadership kept in solid monitoring and
> control mode by their people, quick and hawk like media and swift
> judiciary. >> India has already nearly destroyed one of its most essential
> infrastructures, telecom and it now has been brought in line with our every
> other dismal infrastructure like roads, power, education, health,
> transportation, ports, airports and so on. More importantly, a ubiquitous
> TMT infrastructure is a pre-requisite to curb corruption. Lokpals/Lokayuktas
>  and honest judiciary can bring to little extent but when combined with e
> governance, a very sharp decline in corruption is achieved in quickest time.
> We have already destroyed both the growth prospects of our GDP as also the
> dreams of controlling corruption.
>
> In the absence of any other means, can RTI be used to gather necessary
> inputs and then combined with media quickly disseminate these to the people
> like a viral letting them know how our political leadership through their
> unintelligent, immature and dishonest commitment to their oaths which they
> all took when they became MPs/MLAs, ministers and so on has been taking the
> country behind while the rest of the world is marching ahead with
> improvements after improvements. Just to cite only one example, South Korea
> a war ravaged nation got its independence much later than India, its one
> company Samsung alone generates more than $ 160 billion of annual revenue
> and just recently beaten Apple to second place in its own backyards in US.
> Look at the policies followed by them and what India has done. We have no
> place to hide our selves from this shame.
>
> Through this single largest forum in the country, more than 10 million as
> per Mr Sarbajit, lets take up what ever we can to raise this awareness like
> a viral among the people of India.
>
> Jai Hind
>
> With warm regards,
>
> Col Mahesh Khera

[HumJanenge] WGEEP

Dear Friends, I write this to bring to your notice some recent, for me notable, developments.

 

I had the privilege to serve on a Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI. Our principal mandate was to:

(i) To assess the current status of ecology of the Western Ghats region.

(ii) To demarcate areas within the Western Ghats Region which need to be notified as ecologically sensitive and to recommend for notification of such areas as ecologically sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.  

(iii) To make recommendations for the conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats Region following a comprehensive consultation process involving people and Governments of all the concerned States.

We undertook this task with great interest and sincerity. Basically this was a scientific task of deciding on a set of criteria for declaration of Ecologically Sensitive Zones on the Western Ghats, putting together a spatial database on ecological parameters for the region, delineating potential ecologically sensitive zones, and suggesting a strategy for conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats tract, taking into account our assignment of ecological sensitivity levels.
In order to properly appreciate the issues, we conducted field visits and wide ranging consultations with civil society, experts, concerned state governments, MoEF officials, elected representatives ranging from Gram Panchayat members to MPs and Ministers and CMs.

We also published a scientific paper based on the initial formulation of our criteria for ecological sensitivity for public discussion in India's premier scientific fortnightly, Current Science in January 2011. This is attached for your information.
We submitted our report as required on August 30, 2011. We were told that it will be released at a public function on 21 September 2011. On 19 September 2011 we were informed that the report is not going to be made public for the present, and that we should not release it or discuss it publicly.
Beyond that, our report has set in motion a series of developments that culminated in Central Information Commissioner passing a significant order on April 9, 2012. This is attached for your information, and I quote from it:

"Disclosing a report or information does not mean that the government has to follow it. It may perhaps have to explain the reasons to public for disagreeing with a report based on logic and coherent reasons. This cannot be considered as prejudicially affecting the scientific and economic interests of the State.

If such reports are put in public domain, citizens' views and concerns can be articulated in a scientific and reasonable manner. If the Government has reasons to ignore the reports, these should logically be put before people. Otherwise, citizens would believe that the Government's decisions are arbitrary or corrupt. Such a trust deficit would never be in the interest of the Nation.

The disclosure of the WGEEP report would enable citizens to voice their opinions with the information made available in the said report. Such opinions will be based on the credible information provided by an expert panel constituted by the government. This would facilitate an informed discussion between citizens based on a report prepared with their/public money.

MOEF's unwillingness to be transparent is likely to give citizens an impression that most decisions are taken in furtherance of corruption resulting in a serious trust deficit. This hampers the health of our democracy and the correct method to alter this perception is to become transparent. Such a move would only bring greater trust in the government and its functionaries, and hurt only the corrupt".

CIC had ordered the report to be made public by 10th May 2012. Additionally he ordered that MoEF must put all such reports in public domain within 30 days of receipt, in accordance with requirement of suo moto disclosure in RTI act.
Now I understand that MoEF has gone to Delhi High Court challenging this order.
The full text of CIC order is an outstanding piece of discourse on environment- development issues and on people's role in decision making. It deserves to reach people everywhere. So I have translated in Marathi with a brief introductory background note, and this article will appear in Marathi weekly, Sadhana.
Please do take a look at the material. I would greatly appreciate any comments you may have.

--
With regards, Sincerely,
कळावे, लोभ असावा, आपला स्नेहांकित,
माधव Madhav ಮಾಧವ
Madhav Gadgil,
Res: A-18, Springflowers, Panchavati, Pashan, Pune 411008, Tel 020-25893424
Office: Biodiversity Department, Garware College, Karve Road, Pune 411004, Tel 020-41038236 , Fax 020-41038233
Mobile: 9881153413
माधव गाडगीळ,
जैवविविधता विभाग, गरवारे महाविद्यालय, कर्वे रस्ता, पुणे ४११००४
ए-१८, स्प्रिंगफ़्लॉवर्स, पंचवटी, पाषाण, पुणे ४११००८,
निसर्गाने दिला आनंदकंद । केवळ सौंदर्य, केवळ आनंद।

[rti4empowerment] Open Letter To BEST, MSRTC - Sorry State Of Affairs

2012 MAY 07

Shri OP GUPTA

GM 

BEST

Shri D KAPOOR

MD

MSRTC

Namaskar Mahoday,

An open letter, which you may give consideration in the public interest, or you may ignore in the interest of indiscipline and disorder.

A long time ago, there was a public bus service which was the best in India.

I had many years of real pleasant travelling as a passenger, first as a school boy, our school rented BEST single deckers as school buses way back in the 1970s, then, as a college student, then as one of the lakhs of daily passengers.

The drivers and conductors used to wear caps, shoes, and had their shirts buttoned.

The temperature and climate of Mumbai in those days was the same as now.

That was, a long time ago. 

Amd though the examples are of BEST buses , their drivers., etc.,similar, if not same apply to the MSRTC.

Now the buses are so badly maintained, that a report shows just a few of the many examples.

In fact most buses are damaged in one way or another, almost all the buses with LED indicators  are seen with route numbers and destination written in chalk, because the LED are gone case, in the same buses,  the automatic doors are either not working, or they have been tied by the staff because the drivers do not want to wait for them entry and exit doors to open and close because they just screech to a halt from a fast speed, and then race off.

Not to mention the pathetic workmanship of the bus bodies, the seats are now giving way, not to mention again, the poor ergonomics, and so on.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_sorry-state-of-best-affairs_1685354

And even though there is an internal document, the BEST Traffic manual, not a single employee has not only not bothered to read it, let alone follow it, forget about laws of the land

http://www.bestundertaking.com/download_traffic_manual.asp

http://www.bestundertaking.com/pdf/Traffic%20Department%20Manual.pdf

Nowadays, the name has remained, BEST, but somewhere down the line, the service quality has given way to excuses, excuses, excuses.

Read what has happened

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Poor-conviction-of-BEST-drivers-in-fatal-mishaps/articleshow/13028606.cms

The unnamed BEST official says

>>>

Some officials from the transport undertaking admitted there was a need to discipline the drivers. A BEST committee member claimed that cases sometimes resulted in acquittals because witnesses failed to come forward to testify against the driver. Consumer rights activists have demanded that BEST buses should have speed governors and the department has already begun the process of indigenously manufacturing "speed-limit gadgets" to control the speed of the bus. 

BEST officials claimed the number of fatal accidents has dropped and only seasoned/trained drivers are deployed on important routes.

>>>

Unfortunately the truth and fact is that witnesses are intimidated,  threatened, and pressurised not to attend the hearings in the BEST depots if at all these are held, forget about in the Courts, let alone give evidence.

Further, what is meant by only seasoned / trained drivers are deployed on important routes.

All routes are equally important.

And does that mean the rest are untrained, and left to terrorise passengers, pedestrians, other road users.

Why aren't drivers trained.

What is this training, breaking all signals all times of day, not stopping within 600 mm of the bus stops, cutting lanes, rash driving, reckless driving, etc

Aren't licensed drivers by definition supposed to be trained, and supposed to follow traffic rules.

And these are only the few offenses which are reported, how about the thousands of unreported and worse, ignored incidents which seen day and night on our roads.

Excuse me, kindly excuse the word, but what is this c@@@p

>>>

http://www.dnasyndication.com/dna/dna_english_news_and_features/MSRTC-bus-rams-into-divider/DNMUM239129

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_two-best-bus-collide-in-kurla_1681658

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-23/mumbai/31386636_1_bus-driver-brake-failure-number-of-fatal-accidents

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_best-puts-brakes-on-accidents-in-mumbai_1675103

No reference to total lack of complying to traffic rules

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/story.aspx?edorsup=Sup&ed_code=820009&ed_page=1&boxid=26544014&id=14248&ed_date=04/10/2012

Report from 2008

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/200802162008021602330265474f7a548/BEST%E2%80%99s-red-monster-rams-into-divider-kills-two.html

A public service, which has a responsibility of lakhs of passengers, has no qualms in hiring untrained, partially trained, poorly trained drivers, and after that, has no qualms in not bringing them to book in case of rash, reckless, dangerous driving, which mostly go unreported

And if you observe around, when you are on the roads in Mumbai, you will see that

01 The drivers, trained, untrained, young, old, experienced, inexperienced, do not follow any traffic rules, and they are unleashed on the Citizens of Mumbai, endangering liuves, limbs, property.

Is this not corruption of a high order

02 They drivers do not stop at the bus stops, agin endangering the waiting passengers's lives, blocking traffic, wasting fuel because so many vehicles are blocked, and smooth flow of traffic is affected

03 The drivers and conductors do not wear the complete uniform, most of them wear sandals or chappals, keep their shirt buttons open, I have seen a driver of the BEST AC bus, driving with a vest, banian, on duty.

Such things give a very very poor impression of the BEST to any body, apart from tourists.

I have seen drivers of Karachi's Green Bus Service, wearing ties, and caps,  even though the temperatures there are as high as in Mumbai in APR.

Though the lighter side, and we can take heart that our fate is not as bad can be read on this

http://creativewriter.ning.com/profiles/blogs/amazing-buses-of-amazing-karachi

04 The errant  BESTdrivers who knowingly violate traffic rules are confident that neither the BEST administration and neither the MTP will take any effective punitive action on them, so they continue to carry on their dangerous driving 

05 If at all the driver is caught, at the hearing, the witnesses and victims are made out to be the offender, this has been seen time and again, unions, fellow staff are not only on their side of the errant driver, but make sure the victim is made to get of the exit very fast

06 The MTP deliberately ignore violations by the BEST drivers, even while taking action for say, breaking signals by LMV, and so on, thereby further emboldening their arrogance

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_best-has-worst-finance-msrtc-bad-buses_1672172

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Bus-driver-was-at-fault-says-BEST/articleshow/12565588.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/One-biker-killed-18-injured-as-bus-overturns-in-Mumbai/articleshow/12560671.cms

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/201204072012040722113590626d9c865/Day-after-Bandra-accident-which-left-biker-dead-BEST-suspends-rash-driver.html

Thanqx.

Jagdeep DESAI

Secretary

Founder Trustee

Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs

www.forum4iqolms.org

>>>

Bus driver was at fault, says BEST

Somit Sen, TNN | Apr 7, 2012, 05.48AM IST

Article

Comments (2)

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Read More:Western Express Highway|Om Prakash Gupta|Negligent Driving|BEST Double-Decker

2

The driver of the BEST double-decker was responsible for Friday's mishap in Bandra (E) and there was nothing wrong with the bus, said senior officials of the transport undertaking. 

With the Kalanagar turn (from Bandra-Kurla Complex, towards the Western Express Highway) coming at a sharp angle, any speed above 20 kmph could result in a bus tipping over, said BEST general manager Om Prakash Gupta. 

Speaking to TOI, Gupta blamed the driver, Jalimdar Bhosle, for the accident, alleging that he was driving the bus at a much higher speed in a bid to get past the Kalanagar signal. "The signal had just turned amber from green. The driver, who was in a tearing hurry, swerved the vehicle and it overturned," he explained, adding that an inquiry would be conducted against the driver for alleged rash and negligent driving. 

Experience was also not on Bhosle's side. "He is not a seasoned driver and has only over two years' experience," said Gupta. "Whenever a bus takes a turn at a signal, the turning radius plays a key role. The driver has to use his judgment, reduce the speed of the vehicle and then turn the vehicle accordingly. This will ensure that the bus's centre of gravity is not displaced." 

A senior BEST official from the engineering department said there was no problem with the vehicle. "We inspected the bus on the spot and found out that the mishap was not caused by any technical problem. It is a case of human error and the driver is to be blamed (for the accident)," the official said. 

Experts in the transport body say the centre of gravity of a BEST double-decker, weighing around 7,600kg, is at the bottom of the vehicle. "The driver has to bear in mind that passengers are not inconvenienced when brakes are applied or when he changes gears and accelerates on an empty road," one of them said. 

However, BEST committee member Ravi Raja alleged that this was rarely the case as reckless driving was rampant, drivers jumped signals frequently and also went beyond permissible speed limits. "I have been in the committee for two decades , but have never heard of a double-decker overturning. This is alarming," he said. 

Another committee member, Dilip Patel, demanded that the double-decker buses be manned by only experienced drivers.

>>>

BEST has worst finance, MSRTC bad buses Published: Friday, Apr 6, 2012, 9:30 IST | Updated: Friday, Apr 6, 2012, 0:55 IST  By DNA Correspondent | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

The latest public transport report card released by the Union ministry has ranked BEST as the second highest loss-making body in the country and the MSRTC as the country's third-highest profit making body. The report also says that accidents have gone up on both the fleets. The BEST has recently proposed a fare hike and also cut down on 15 loss-making routes to correct its finances. Among the three highest loss-making SRTUs, Delhi Transport leads the bandwagon with highest loss of Rs2,286.54 crore, followed by BEST's Rs381.38 crore and Andra Pradesh's state transport of Rs268.81 crore. A BEST committee member said that BEST was now looking at various other options from where they could raise money and pull the undertaking out of the red. The MSRTC, however, fares badly when it comes to using its buses as its fleet of over-aged buses has increased from 0.6% in 2010 to 10.4% in 2011. The productivity of the transport undertakings, to a large extent, depends on the age profile of their bus fleet and the policy adopted for scrapping of over-aged buses. "One cannot compare city and state buses. We are planning to improve and upgrade the fleet. This year we are planning to induct new fleet of semi-sleeper Volvos, new Sheetals, new Parivartans with better design and seats,'' Deepak Kapoor, managing director of MSRTC told DNA. >>> City Day after Bandra accident which left biker dead, BEST suspends rash driver Mumbai Mirror Bureau       Mail this pagePrint this pageTranslate this page Rate me.... ShareShare Share Share 0digg Posted On Saturday, April 07, 2012 at 10:11:26 PM The management of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), on Saturday, suspended the driver of the double decker bus that toppled at Bandra on Friday killing one person, for reckless driving. The double-decker BEST bus, route no 310, toppled as its driver was speeding towards the Bandra railway station. The accident which took place at Kalanagar, left a motorcyclist, Harish Pillai, dead. Thirty one passengers were injured in the incident, of these 16 were admitted in  Bhabha Hospital. Ten were discharged immediately after treatment. Five people are in private hospitals. "The bus driver, Jallinder Bhosle, has been found responsible for the accident. On Friday BEST authorities investigated all facts and then suspended him. The accident took place due to speeding at a turn," said OP Gupta, general manager, BEST. The driver was arrested by the Kherwadi police. According to sources from BEST, he was recruited on temporary daily wage basis during the drivers' strike in 2007, when the BEST administration recruited about 750 drivers who were not properly trained. He was made permanent in June 2010, according to Gupta. In the past three months, the BEST has taken action against about 500 employees, including drivers, for indisciplinary behaviour. There are 4,699 buses in BEST's fleet, of which 4,000 ply in the city and suburbs every day, and there are about 12,000 drivers, including permanent and temporary drivers. "These temporary drivers don't have proper training, but are tested by the administration during recruitment. They don't have enough knowledge of heavy vehicle driving," admitted Ravi Raja, a BEST committee member. "Though the BEST claims that there were fewer accidents involving their buses this year, there were 32 fatal accidents, 135 serious and 400 minor accidents. Sixty five cases of collision were reported," he added. Victim's family wants BEST driver to be punished "Someone else's negligence ruined our lives. The reckless BEST bus driver should be punished," said KK Nambiar, accident victim Harish's uncle. Harish, 31, was a BPO employee. "Harish used to ride a bike for many years. He always rode it very carefully. The BEST bus driver's carelessness cost him his life," Nambiar said. Harish's younger brother, Santosh said, "We are not in a position to pursue the case, but the BEST has to punish the driver. Harish was to get married on May 3." Harish's father Ravindran was not in a position to speak. On Saturday he collected the body from Cooper hospital, and Harish was cremated at Gorai crematorium.