The Supreme Court has decided to examine whether defence organisations such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) can withhold information regarding transfer of an employee, claiming that they are exempted organisations under the Right to Information Act.
A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and V. Gopala Gowda issued a notice to the Centre and the DRDO on a petition filed by Dr. Neelam Bhalla, a scientist, who was transferred to a different unit and has sought the reasons for her transfer under the RTI Act. Having failed to get relief before the Central Information Commission and the Delhi High Court, she has moved the apex court.
The petitioner contended that only those information which directly affected and correlated to “intelligence and security” could be exempted and would not apply to information which were general in nature.
She said this petition raised an important question of law as to the interpretation of section 24 of the Right to Information Act, vis–a-vis the exclusion of exempted organisations such as the DRDO. She said citizens were deprived of records relating to their services not being related to corruption and human rights violation.
She said the “wilful disclosure of incorrect or false or misleading information relating to routine matters such as transfer not only to the petitioner but also to higher authorities, namely the Minister of Defence and the National Commission for Women, to justify their actions, was an offence under the newly enacted Whistle Blowers Protection Act.”
She said she was a victim of gender discrimination and humiliation at the hands of senior scientists and in this context, filed a complaint before the NCW inter-alia alleging nepotism and lapses in the policy of recruitment and in particular that her task for the recruitment of scientists ‘B’ was selectively taken away. She prayed for a direction to the authorities to disclose the reasons for her transfer.
To Date 20th November 2013 The CPIO, DRDO HQ Room No. 314A DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg New Delhi – 110105
Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Private University establish by an act of state legislature of Uttar Pradesh
1.Please provide total amount of funds granted to Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, Private University by DRDO Labs since April 2008 to March 2013 for various purposes.
2.Name of scientists of DRDO who enroll for PhD since April 2008 to March 2013.
3. Name of scientists of DRDO who joined Amity University if available with DRDO Hqrs
Kindly refer to following decisions of Central Information Commission and verdict given in these decisions.
File No. CIC/LS/A/2012/002612 dated 22.3.2013 (Dr. Neelam Bhalla vs. DRDO) Verdict – It is, no doubt, true that DRDO is an exempted organisation yet it has been the consistent view of this Commission that the benefit of exemption extends only to functional / operational matters and not to establishment related routine matters. The legality of this view has not been challenged in the relevant judicial forum so far.
Note: – above required information is directly related to corruption and not come under schedule II. As you aware Dr W Selvamurthy (Dr in YOGA from Private Institute) has joined Amity Group as President, Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF) and Chair professor, Life Sciences without obtaining the required NOC from government of India. Recently Defence Minister recommends CBI inquiry against top DRDO officials and Dr W Selvamurthy is one of them.
Shri Avinash Chandra Ji, after you joined as DRDO boss, honest and neutral official expected and hoped for good decision, good administration, good cohesive environment, hope you will shake DRDO with your full strength to get rid of incompetent stuff.
But sorry to say you disappointed the honest scientists/ staff/ officials and they are not finding any reason to stay or giving their 100% output to DRDO.
Avinash ji, collect all your good energy and get rid of the nexus of culprits who are controlling SPIC, CCE, Department of Personnel, RTI Cell, RAC, CEPTAM and some Lab heads.
Every DRDO official knows acts and deeds of these corrupt officials but sake of their carrier not coming forward but sending anonymous or fake signed letters ( inputs are correct) to Prime Minister, Defence Minister and other government agencies and of course to you also, I have also received some from various labs. (Sending bunch to Honorable Defence Minister)
The increasing numbers of court cases are also perfect examples of mismanagement in DRDO.
The decision of giving responsibility of administration/material management to scientists is also going to be a big problem in the coming time.
Perfect administration and perfect procurement is not cup of scientists. They are not able to match with laid down rules of government of India. Day by day increasing number of anomalies / audit objections in recruitments / procurement are going to be a big issues.
Dr. P S Goel’s DO letter implementing of interaction for promotion from Sc ‘ F’ to Sc ‘G’ without approval from cabinet is a clear cut case of violation of Article 309 and the repercussion now started in shape of court cases which was hampering the progress of DRDO and created demotivation among senior scientists
Same in RAC/ CEPTAM encouraging recruitment of incompetent / fake degree / diploma appointment of such candidates who are not eligible as per SRO/ appointment on the basis of nepotism/ in this respect you only see the RTI’s on these issues, you will find clear picture of the future of DRDO.
You are under the impression that corrupt CPIO, Dr A K Tyagi is protecting DRDO. It is not true, instead of exposing the corrupt practices, he is trying to bury the information and very soon these corrupt practices will sink the DRDO ship. As you aware CVC already issued advice to CVO, MoD against the Dr A K Tyagi for “Regular Disciplinary action is recommended on: 9/9/2013“and you are not taking any action to remove him for the post of CPIO, DRDO. What does it mean, it means still you are in grip of corrupt officials. A honest advice is first change your staff officer and old staff of Dr Sarswat’s time, than only you will be find some change in DRDO’s scenario.
Avinash ji, we all very well know that you are washing dirty linen of Dr V K Sarswat’s several misdeed which are the outcome of mismanagement of Dr Sarswat, because he was only on? Government agencies very well know about that, and why he was not able to get extension, Ms R. AMRUTHA VANI, SC ‘F’’s (‘Below the Bench Mark’) case, Dr Neelam Bhalla’s, Sc ‘F’ (Workplace Humiliation, Harassment, Gender discrimination & Victimisation) case etc. but problem is that you are dealing all issues with same set of officials ( Dr Sarswat’s & Dr. W Selvamurthy’s gang) who created and responsible for these kinds of hurdles in DRDO for their own wasted interest.
CEPTAM Director enjoys all type of corrupt practices like he is engaging his wife and relatives in different recruitments boards as experts. Recent CEPTAM recruitment process he introduced mandatory SMS registration (cost Rs 3 to each applicant) for his personal benefit (he worked this out this without proper procedure) and due to this almost thousands of aspirant were not able to get their admit cards. In this process lot of SC/ST candidates also suffered, you can check with records, where Government of India facilitates to SC/ST candidates in recruitments without any fee. Almost 5 lakhs candidates applied nearly one lakh rejected and thousands of candidate could not appear due remote centre problem, candidates were not given asked choice centers, they received admit cards with centers like Goa, Mizoram, Chennai, Patna.
Please go through the following letters which are self explanatory of your labs environment and administrative ability of your scientist.
Example Responsibility of Administration to Scientist – DMSRDE ION Dated 31st December 2012 a true example of DRDO helpless position – a perfect documentary evidence of how incompetency promoting in DRDO.
DMSRDE – ION Dated 31st December 2012
CEPTAM Recruitment Case – Few examples
Sh. Kamdev , SC candidate – Admit card not received reason – SMS registration
Sh. Kunal – Admit card received after one day – 5 times he registered by SMS – Delhi local but centre was Ajmer
Sh Satvir – Applied for post of welder and asked for local nearby centre Delhi but he was given centre Chennai
Mohd Shahbaz – No Admit card received/ SMS registered/ application not found
Sh Saroj Kumar- applied for 0217 Diesel Mech local Harsh Vihar, Delhi based admit card received with Centre in Patna
Sh Sandeep – applied for Fireman not received admit card – reason not known
Ms Kavita – resident of Delhi, Admit card received given exam in Kanpur centre spend Rs 4000 will Director CEPTAM reimburse or only busy minting money for himself and his relatives.
Hundreds of candidates wasted their days in front of CEPTAM reception but could not able get their admit cards.
Long list will be continue
Appeal to clean DRDO of corrupt and anti-national officials
