Stung by libido!

It’s normal the accused always tries to deny the wrong he’s committed and put forward reasons, weak or strong, to defend himself. In this respect Tarun Tejpal is no exception.But what’s very confusing is being the most successful sting operator himself that has shot him to fame he’s put in different reasons at different times to exonerate himself. Initially, he confessed to what he’d done and was in a mood to expiate but later he under plays every thing he has perpetrated.However, ultimately if he’s proved guilty, law would award him punishment that he deserves. Isn’t it irony of fate that a man who made daring sting operations and unfolded crimes of unbelievable magnitude that brought many high profile personalities to justice is himself put on the dock stung by libido?

How safe is our ATM kiosk!

The way the lady, bank employee herself, was attacked by the miscreant inside the ATM kiosk after rolling down the shutter at Bangalore sends shiver down any body's spine.Good luck that the lady was only injured and not murdered.The assailant could have outraged her modesty too.After this incident one might be scared to go to ATM counter alone to withdraw money. Unfortunately, Banks don't care for the safety of the customers.So they don't feel the necessity of engaging security guards at all ATM counters either.Most of the ATM booths are left unguarded much to the risk of the customers.Bank only take precautions that ATM machines are made such a pilfer proof manner that money can't be robbed of the machines even left unguarded.So they don't require to engage security personnel at ATM counters, though incidences of robbery at ATM machines are some times reported.That apart, Banks argue deployment of security guards round the clock at all ATM booths involves a lot of money which they can't afford particularly when they plan to increase the number of ATM counters even in rural areas in the interest of the customers. However,Banks can't wash their hands of the safety of the customers.In fact,transactions at ATM have reduced the running expenditures of the bank considerably.So there is no reason why Banks raise the question of viability of ATM services if each ATM counter is provided with security guards round the clock.Banks can also explore other ways and means to provide security to the customers .What is actually required is determination and good will on the part of the banks in this respect. --

Jack of all Sports,Master of Cricket!

Cricket lovers all over the world has bidden farewell to Sachin Tendulkar , the living legend of Cricket. We’re proud India has ever produced a cricketer of such a stature whom people would remember and adore till the game of cricket is played on earth. However, in glaring contrast it’s sad India miserably fails in other departments of sports and games in the international fray. What’s more, in the events Indian contestants have excelled, for example, in World Chess competition, shooting in Olympic Games etc, they’ve mostly done it in individual efforts rather than by the assistance from the sports administration of the country. Once India was unparalleled in Hockey but now it has relegated to the back seat. In the country of more than 100 crores of people India has ever failed to produce a foot baller or athlete of Sachin Tendulkar’s stature in Cricket. So we have to remain contented with Cricket and bask in the glorious achievements of legendary cricketer like Tendulkar in days to come to make up for the loss of face in other fields of sports and games.

A ray of hope!

Tata’s recent submission at SC that they like to make automobile factory at their Nano factory site at Singur which they left for political disturbances seems to be the most welcome news for the state and for the people of Singur in particular.Tata shifted their Nano project to Sananda at Gujarat when it was near-complete and it sent a wrong signal to the industrialists who’re still reluctant to invest in West Bengal. Nor is there any possibility of a big industry coming up in near future in the state.In this context Tata’s offer of opening up a new industry at Singur, may it be the second unit of Nano or anything else, is quite significant. If it comes true, the scenario on industrial front of Bengal would change and the state would be able to live down its anti-industry image. Investments would start pouring in. Certainly people of Singur feel happy at this sudden change of circumstances and find ray hope in Tata’s offer of come-back.It’d dispel the pall of gloom that has overcast the people of Singur after Tata called it quits. Hopefully, the so called unwilling farmers, whose number at present has dwindled to claimants for 42 acres of land only as against 400 acres mentioned earlier, would cease to stick to their demand for return of their land from Tata’s factory project area in the their own interest as well as in the interest of people of Singur at large. The present govt which promised to return 400 acres of land to ‘unwilling farmers’ in their election manifesto would also relent and reconsider their stance to make their sincerest efforts to bring industries to the state a success.

An unperdonable mistake!

Google deserves a lot of thanks for reminding us of the 125th birthday of C.V.Raman. He is the first Asian and first Indian as well to have been awarded Nobel Prize in Science.He carried out his research work at Indian Association Of Cultivation of Science, Calcutta in most difficult circumstances. What’s most interesting, he was confident that he would be awarded Nobel Prize for his work and it came true.Incidentally, later on Indian born scientists received Nobel Prizes too but none of them got this prestigious award carrying out their research work in Indian universities. So C.V.Raman is so far the only Indian to have been awarded the Nobel Prize in science working on India soil.It’s a pity that we can afford to forget his 125th Birthday. Thank Google once again.

Defeating the objective!

SC’s judgment is aimed at unchaining the bureaucrats and allowing them to work freely.Transfering, punishing and rewarding of an IAS officer is suggested to be advised by Civil Service Board(CSB) whose recommendation, however, is not binding on the govt. CSB would be manned by working officers and headed by cabinet secretary and chief secretary in case of a state. It’s unlikely the members of CSB would go in for confrontation with the Chief Minister of a state and incur his/her displeasure. They might cite reasons that stands out as not that convincing or even not at all true, as done with IPS officer Ms. Durga Sakti Nagbal of UP who was slapped with the charge of demolishing Masjid wall, to transfer or punish a officer concerned with a view to obliging the Chief Minister. If the heads of the state trample with the recommendations of the democratic institutions like Human Rights Commission, they can ignore the suggestions of CSB too.If that be the case the objective of the apex court would be defeated.

Safeguard of Bureaucrats!

Sc's landmark judgement that bureaucrats should not act on the oral instructions of netas or ministers, except under special circumstances would act as a safe guard of the bureaucrats because if the action taken by them on the basis of oral orders is questioned in future the minister concerned might wash off his/her hand and lay all blame on the executive officers who has on the other hand no written document to defend himself.However, under extraordinary situation which demands immediate action to tackle a situation waiting for written order might prove self defeating and in that case the executive should ask for a written instruction later on from his boss for his own safety.However,sometimes officers misguide the ministers,In that case a written record of the concerned officer's opinion in certain matter must be kept. Officers are now transferred at the drop of a hat in our state.Recently, Durga sakti Nag Pal was suspended in UP and reinstated after country wide furor against this punitive measure. It's a common practice to transfer officers when they incur the displeasure of their political bosses for their dissension in some matter.SC's mandated that an officer has to be allowed to work for a minimum tenure and can't be transferred according to the sweet will of a neta or minister during this period.. . However, SC has not mentioned the quantum of minimum tenure. SC has suggested to form CIvil Service Board(CSB) for monitoring transfer and offer of reward or punishment to the officer as well.Now the opportunity is there for the govt to influence CSB in its favour.Again,if an officer happens to be dishonest and insincere or incompetent and if he can't be transferred or removed in the 'period of minimum stay' then administration will suffer.These issues need be resolved.