Public Servants

India's public grievance redress system recognised as best in Commonwealth

India's centralised public grievance redressal system has been recognised as best in practice across the Commonwealth following a meeting of top civil servants from the 56 member countries this week. The Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) was highlighted in the outcome statement of the Third Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Commonwealth Heads of Public Service meeting held between Monday and Wednesday at the Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House headquarters in London. The meeting was themed as Institutionalisation of Smart Government to enhance public service delivery under which the government of India's administrative department made a presentation. The Indian presentation on the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) was made by Shri V Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), on April 23, 2024, and received commendation from Commonwealth member countries as a global best

Clear stand on plea against use of officials to highlight work: HC to govt

The plea claimed that it's a political propaganda and that these communications are for the benefit of the ruling party at the Centre

Law on assault of public servant: Parl panel suggests reduced punishment

A parliamentary panel has recommended that the two-year imprisonment given to anyone who assaults or uses criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty should be reduced to one year after taking into account submissions of some MPs that the law is widely "misused". The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs headed by BJP member Brij Lal made the recommendation after examining the three proposed criminal laws. In its report, the panel noted that some members of the committee submitted that section 353 under Indian Penal Code (IPC), which corresponds to clause 130 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is "widely misused by public servants in the name of deterrence". "As the political demonstrations are the soul of democracy and there are instances in the past when political leaders were harassed and falsely convicted for offences under this section of IPC while demonstrating, therefore, it was suggested that the punishment under this clause may be ...

SC refuses to hear PIL alleging use of public servants by ruling party

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a PIL seeking to quash a letter issued by the Controller General of Defence Accounts and DoPT's office memorandum which seek to use public servants to showcase achievements of the government. A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra took note of the submissions of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, and said it was not inclined to hear the publicity interest litigation. Bhushan submitted that this is a serious matter where the ruling party wants to allegedly use public servants for promotion of its work with an aim to get benefits in upcoming elections. The bench, however, seemed disinclined to hear the PIL. The plea is dismissed as withdrawn with the liberty to the petitioner to approach the high court, the bench ordered. The PIL, filed by EAS Sarma and Jagdeep S Chhokar, sought setting aside of the letter of October 9, 2023 of the Controller General of Defence Accounts of the Ministry of Defence to Controllers of Defe

Pakistan's annual expenditure on public servants over PKR 8 trn: Study

Despite this extensive expenditure, little is known about the overall contribution, outcomes, and impact of these public servants on taxpayers

Yogi govt goes strict on officials not responding to calls of public reps

Officials said that the government has given a strong message to the officers who do not pick up the calls of public representatives and ordered them to follow the courtesy

Centre suggests public servants to use Gati Shakti approach to plan infra

The centre has suggested public servants in states to use PM Gati Shakti approach for planning modern infrastructure specially in districts, an official statement said on Saturday. The approach and use of the PM Gati Shakti was discussed during a web-based seminar hosted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on August 4. Secretary, DPIIT, Rajesh Kumar Singh laid emphasis on crucial need for the administrators and public servants to understand the concept and uses of PM Gati Shakti approach in building world class infrastructure for the country. More than 250 participants with senior most officers from 27 Central Training Institutes (CTIs) and about 34 State Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) participated in the webinar. "Detail Route Survey done by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas used to take 6-9 months to prepare 46 reports. However, with the NMP through electronic Detailed Route Survey (eDRS), the reports are now created in a few

Parl panel asks for mechanism to check veracity of asset of civil servants

Noting that a large number of IAS officers have not filed annual immovable property returns, a Parliamentary committee has asked the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to form a panel to to look into it and also put in place a mechanism to check the veracity of asset details filed by bureaucrats. As many as 1,393 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers did not file their asset details in the 2011 to 2022 period, according to a recent report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice. "Keeping the wider ramifications of corruption in public administration in mind, the Committee recommends the central government to constitute a committee to examine the issue of non-submission of annual immovable property returns by public servants in detail," said the report tabled in Parliament recently. The Committee said that DoPT should put a mechanism in place to check the veracity of the property return statement file

Public servants have started eyeing ministerial posts after retirement

The lack of competence in the BJP has given rise to a situation where bureaucrats, judges, military people etc., now eye ministerial positions in the govt

Circumstantial evidence enough to convict public servants for graft: SC

SC holds that direct evidence of demand for bribe by public servants is not necessary to convict them under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act

Delhi HC to hear PIL against political persons holding govt posts on Friday

The Delhi High Court will hear on Friday a public interest litigation (PIL) matter objecting to the appointment of persons holding important positions in political parties as public servants at various government posts. The petition, filed by lawyer Sonali Tiwary, says the "principle of political neutrality of public servants" prohibits them from taking part in political activities but there is "non-conformance to the above principle", which is not only causing huge losses to the public exchequer, but also propagating the beliefs of the political parties. The PIL is listed for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad. Citing the example of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra, who is the chairman of the India Tourism Department Corporation, and BJP Parliamentary Board member Iqbal Singh Lalpura, who is the chairperson of the National Minorities Commission, the petitioner has contended that those occupying "such ..

Guilty without guilt in IAS

H C Gupta's case tells us how the 'system' works to punish the non-corrupt. And if this is how it's going to be, who would risk taking a decision?

Lokpal fails to sanction prosecution of anyone in nearly three years

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, states that the Lokpal shall constitute a prosecution wing headed by the director of prosecution for the purpose of prosecution of public servants

Gaikwad effect? Bill to enhance punishment for attacking govt staff opposed

BJP's Shelar says even a verbal argument invites trouble, bail only possible in sessions court

Public servant tag worries NGO sector workers

Many claim they fear witch hunts for disagreeing with those in power