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Many BrahMos staffers have official data on personal devices:ATS FIR

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Shisher Arya, TNN: October 12, 2108

Nagpur: Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) investigators grilling Nishant Aggarwal have reported that the BrahMos Aerospace systems engineer confessed to having copied data related to the missiles from his senior colleague Alan Abraham’s computer, when he was still undergoing training in the organization.
The First Information Report (FIR) registered by Uttar Pradesh ATS was accessed by TOI. It says Aggarwal told investigators that he had copied the data from the official computer of his colleague around four years ago, without his permission. The person from whose computer the data was downloaded was posted at the Hyderabad facility of BrahMos Aerospace, where Aggarwal was undergoing training. The person has now quit the job and is pursuing a research project in Canada.
Aggarwal had just joined the organization four years ago, and was posted at the facility in Nagpur before arrested three days ago.
The FIR says Aggarwal confessed that he had copied the data without his colleague’s permission. However, he has also named close to a dozen other colleagues, who, he claims, have even more sensitive data stored on their private computers as wel. the designations of these colleagues include his peers andeven seniors.
However, Agagarwal had no answer to how official data, which was supposed to remain a secret, reached his personal devices pertained to mution of war, supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles.
The FIR further says that apart from storing the details in in personal devices, Aggarwal also had links with two Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).They were in contact with him through fake Facebook (FB).accounts in the name of Neha Sharma and Pooja Ranjan.Aggarwal did not reveal anything on how did he got in touch with the two persons on Facebook.Their e-mail IDs have been traced to Pakistan, said the ATS.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that among the papers seized by ATS from Nishant’s computers is a user manual of the missiles supplied to the Indian Navy. The manual is, however, supposed to be 10 years old,and a routine document each engineer has for his reference.Much changes have been made to the system since then, said sources.
Sources said it was sometime during 2011 that such information was provided in soft copy to a number of BrahMos Aerospace employees for reference.Even this was supposed to remain in official computers only.After that, software that does not allow data to be copied or altered has been put in place.
Sources say the investigations began after an IAF officer was held on similar charges early this year. It was found that Neha Sharma was a Facebook friend of this officer too. An army officer at Jabalpur too was under scanner.
The FIR mentions that the PIO agents using fake names had been extracting information from top officials of important defence establishments of the country. Their tactics included honey trapping and even blackmailing and bribaery.
IN A NUTSHELL
Colleague from whose computer Aggarwal copied data was posted at Hyderabad, Aggarwal was trainee at that time.Colleague has quit job and is now pursuing research at Canada.
Aggarwal named a dozen other colleagues who have official data on their computers.
ATS FIR says two Pak operatives — Neha Sharma and Pooja Ranjan – had befriended many defence officials.
Honey-trapping, bribery and blackmail were tactics to glean information.

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DefExpo 2018: Policy paralysis during Congress rule had affected defence preparedness, PM Modi says

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B Sivakumar | TNN | Updated: Apr 12, 2018, 13:21 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Prime Minister was speaking at the defence expo in Chennai.
  • Modi said policy paralysis would not happen anymore.
  • The PM launched IDEX , a portal for startups to deal with the defence production department.

 CHENNAI: India is set to move faster in all fields as the NDA government has brought the country out of policy paralysis caused by the previous Congress government, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while formally inaugurating the 10th edition of the defence expo – DefExpo 2018 – at Thiruvidandai near Chennai on Thursday.
“There was a time when, like many other aspects of governance, the critical issue of defence preparedness was also hampered by policy paralysis. We have seen how laziness, incompetence and perhaps some hidden motives can cause damage to the nation,” said the Prime Minister.
He said such paralysis would not happen anymore. “Issues that should have been long addressed by previous governments are being resolved now. You would have seen how the requirement of providing bullet proof jackets to Indian Army soldiers was kept hanging for years,” said Modi.
“You would also recall the long-drawn process of procurement of fighter aircraft that never reached any conclusion. We have not only taken bold action to meet our immediate critical requirements, but have also initiated a new process to procure 110 fighter aircraft. We do not want to spend 10 years in discussions without any tangible outcomes,” he said.
Promising honesty and transparency in all the dealings, the Prime Minister said, “We will work with you with a sense of mission to keep our defence forces equipped with state-of-the-art systems, and to create the necessary domestic manufacturing ecosystem to achieve this.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister launched IDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), a portal for startups to deal with the defence production department. “Today, we launched the ‘Innovation for Defence Excellence’ scheme. It will set up defence innovation hubs throughout the country to provide necessary incubation and infrastructure support to the startups in defence area,” said Modi.
He said the government would encourage private venture capital into the defence sector, especially for startups.
“New and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics are perhaps the most important determinants/of defensive and offensive capabilities for any defence force in the future. India, with its leadership in information technology domain, would strive to use this technology tilt to its advantage,” he said.
Quoting former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister said, Kalam asked us to dream, dream and dream. Our dream is to develop the ecosystem to foster an environment of new and creative entrepreneurship in defence manufacturing sector.
Modi said in the coming weeks the government would undertake extensive consultations with all stakeholders, including both Indian and foreign companies, about our defence production and defence procurement policy space. “I call upon all of you to actively participate in this exercise. Our aim is not just to discuss, but to draw the right lessons. Our intention is not to lecture, but to listen. Our goal is not merely to tinker, but to transform,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister witnessed live demonstration of the three services.

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‘Top DRDO and Army officers wrongfully sanctioned Defence projects’

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Prateek Goyal=Monday, April 2, 2018, Sakal Times
Pune: PK Mehta, Director General of city-based Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation establishment, and Major General Ajay Gupta, Director of Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) are facing allegations that they have misused their financial powers for sanctioning of fallacious defence projects costing Rs 93 crore.

 “Projects worth Rs 93 crore sanctioned allegedly without Army requirement”

A complaint was received by the Prime Minister Office and DRDO HQ, Ministry of Defence, about sanctioning of projects without project requirement from user – the Army in this case. The matter was reported by a serving officer of Indian Army to MOD and PMO.

The complaint letter dated March 11 states that the three defence projects were aggressively pursued by Gupta and sanctioned by Mehta in later half of 2017, without any requirement from the Army.

Corruption in DRDO
A highly placed source in DRDO lab, on condition of anonymity, told Sakal Times that the process of sanctioning of technology demonstration projects in DRDO has become very casual. The projects are being sanctioned without issuance of PSQRs from users’ (Army, Navy, Air Force) participation and requirement. He said, “It’s high time the Ministry conducts an enquiry in sanctioning of projects as there is lot of corruption going on in DRDO.

The sanctioning authority with Mehta is Rs 50 crore per project while Gupta’s power is Rs 5 crore per project. Together they have sanctioned projects worth Rs 93.67 crore.”

Mehta’s defence
When Sakal Times contacted Mehta, he said, “Many a times, users are not aware of the technology so there are projects which are sanctioned without their requirement. It is sanctioned only after being reviewed by various experts. Even after the sanctioning, we have to look for the outcome, because in research and development there are chances that a project can be a failure.”

“Interest of nation is most important and we have to be independent in the manufacturing of defence projects and we are working on it under ‘Make in India’ programme of government,” added Mehta.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Gupta on phone and through texts, he was not available for comment.

Experts fume
KK Mishra, Joint Director (Retd), DRDO, said, “How can they sanction the projects without requirement from users. Defence projects are not some college projects one should remember that huge amount of money is invested in them. Participation of user is required before sanctioning of such projects. Many a times senior authorities sanction such projects for their own benefits. In past also people have sanctioned projects and gained monetary benefits from them.”

Defence expert Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd) said, “It is surprising that a project has been sanctioned without requirement of user. For procurement of any armament or equipment for armed forces, user requirement is necessary. Such matters should be inquired into by Army headquarters.”

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CBI to probe Major Gen’s role in security breach at VRDE

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Prateek Goyal
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
‌An official at the CBI office, Pune, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially we are going to conduct an inquiry and if there is any substantial proof, we are going to register a complaint and conduct an open inquiry.”
PUNE: A complaint was submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Pune office, on Sunday against the Director of Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, Maj Gen Ajay Gupta, for allegedly compromising the safety and security of the defence establishment.

He was accused of conducting a 30-minute meeting on February 15 with two foreign nationals and a non-resident Indian, along with officials of a private company, without taking security clearance from the Directorate of Vigilance and Security, New Delhi, a mandatory rule for all DRDO officials prior to meeting any foreign national in any capacity.

VRDE, Ahmednagar is a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which deals with research, design, development of specialist defence vehicles and is considered to be a highly restricted zone.

An official at the CBI office, Pune, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially we are going to conduct an inquiry and if there is any substantial proof, we are going to register a complaint and conduct an open inquiry.”

THE COMPLAINT
The complaint was initiated  by the security officer to VRDE, appointed by Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

According to the copy of the complaint letter available with Sakal Times, on February 15, at 10 am, the security officer, who is also an army officer, received a call from the security staff at Daund Gate of VRDE, informing him that two foreigners had arrived with representatives of a private company.  The caller stated they were asked by the personal assistant (PA) of the Director to be allowed to enter the complex.

However, the security officer refused to allow them in as they didn’t have the necessary clearance from the office of Directorate Vigilance and Security HQ, New Delhi. Though Gupta pressurised the security staff through his PA, he couldn’t succeed.

The complaint states that at 10.30 am, Gupta compromised the security of VRDE and went outside Daund Gate, where he conducted a half-an-hour meeting with the visitors, which is a security breach and violation of instructions promulgated by the handbook of instructions on Vigilance and Security and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

When contacted, Maj Gen Gupta said, “I did not conduct any meeting with those foreign nationals. They came to VRDE without any clearance, which is why I went to the gate to turn them back.”

VIOLATION OF RULE
A source in DRDO said, “Maj Gen Gupta didn’t follow the SOP. Details of foreigners, including their passport copies, are required for clearance. Even if you are meeting foreigners at their hotel or residence, prior permission is required. A DRDO official cannot meet a foreigner in any capacity without permission, because we deal with the research and development of weapons, as well as other products for our armed forces, and divulging any such information can compromise our national security.”

KK Mishra, retired Joint Director, VRDE, said, “Gupta himself was once director of Vigilance and Security, how can he commit a mistake like this? VRDE does research work on secret projects and there are possibilities that the foreigners you are meeting can be spies, that is why such strict measures are taken.”

A DRDO official, requesting anonymity, said , “Why did the director have to go to gate to turn back any foreign national and why did he spend half an hour over there? It is the duty of security officer or guard on duty to inform visitors to leave the gate area, and not of the Director.”

WHAT THE RULEBOOK SAYS
– According to the handbook of instructions on Vigilance and Security and Standard Operating Procedures, DRDO officials cannot meet any foreigner in any capacity without permission of Directorate of Vigilance and Security.
– Application for security clearance in respect of foreign nationals of prior reference countries should be forwarded to the Directorate at least six weeks before their visit, whereas for foreign nationals of all countries, it should reach the Directorate at least 10 days ahead.
– Meeting with foreign nationals in DRDO establishments can be held only after obtaining security clearance from DRDO HQ. Interaction/ meeting should be avoided at DRDO guest house/ transit facilities.
– No foreign national is allowed to stay at DRDO guest house.

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Who is Dr VK Saraswat, the new member of NITI Aayog?

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Moneylife Digital Team

06 January 2015   

Dr Saraswat, as former chief of DRDO has been also red-flagged by the Comptroller General of Defence Audit-CGDA over his several decisions that resulted in the Defence Ministry curtailing his financial powers

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) appointed Dr VK Saraswat as full-time member of newly established National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. Dr Saraswat is former Secretary of Defence (Research & Development- R&D), but is more known as one of the high profile former chiefs of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). However, his inning at the DRDO was marred by controversies resulting in the government turning down his extension. He was even awarded a jail sentence for contempt of court.

Dr Saraswat was the key scientist in the development of the Prithvi missile and its induction in the Indian armed forces.

A PhD in Combustion Engineering, Dr Saraswat started his career in DRDO in 1972 at Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), he was responsible for the development of the country’s first Liquid Propulsion Engine, DEVIL. As Project Director of Prithvi, he steered the design, development, production and induction of the first indigenous Surface-to-Surface missile system into the armed forces. He is regarded as one of the key scientists in the team of former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who is said to have had a deep influence on Dr Saraswat.

He was conferred the Padma Shri in 1998. He was also conferred the Padma Bhusan by the Government of India in 2013.

However, his career was not without controversies. In 2012, Dr Saraswat took a stand contradictory to the then Army Chief, General VK Singh, who had labelled Tatra trucks as substandard. Talking about Tatra trucks at a press conference, Dr Saraswat had said, “Tatra truck is an outstanding truck…They have a very good cross country capability and can move at good speeds.”

Earlier in 2010 too, he had torn into the armed forces for failing to overcome their ‘temptation’ to induct latest imported weapon systems. Speaking at the National Technology Day in May where the then Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and Gen VK Singh were also present, Dr Saraswat had said, “Services also must understand that while the temptation may be overwhelming to field proven, state-of-the-art imported systems, they too have a role to play in the country’s economic and industrial growth. No foreign system can be customised to completely address our long-term requirements.”

Interestingly, as of now, both Gen Singh and Dr Saraswat have become part of the Narendra Modi government. While the former chief of DRDO has become full-time member of NITI Aayog, the former Army Chief is the Minister of State of External Affairs and Minister of State (independent charge) for North East Region, in the Modi government.

In a September 2012 report, the New Indian Express had said, “…a nightmare was revealed recently when Defence Minister AK Antony ordered the Comptroller General of Defence Audit (CGDA) to do a secret audit of India’s equivalent of the futuristic workshop of James Bond’s ‘Q’ — the Defence Research and Development Organisation that goes by the handle DRDO.”

Quoting the CGDA, the newspaper had said, “DRDO has been developing equipment which is either sub-standard or have extended deadlines and additional budgets. Many of the projects have been sanctioned without the requisite government approval. Only 10% of projects have come to the Ministry for clearance. Corruption and nepotism exists in the upper echelons and there is an exodus of qualified scientists.”

“The CGDA has questioned why he (Dr Saraswat) granted Rs2.88 crore to a mathematics institute to develop a futuristic radar when its scientists are not even remotely connected with research relating to the project. Incidentally, Dr Saraswat is the president of the institute’s governing body. The audit also stated that the institute lacked expert manpower and started recruitment only after getting DRDO funds that were released without due diligence. A Dehradun scientific lab was granted Rs14 crore to develop a communication link, while the institute headed by Dr Saraswat was also sanctioned Rs2.98 crore to develop the same technology — it doesn’t have even basic facilities like computers for individual researchers,” the report says.

Although DRDO denied all the observations of the CGDA report, it affected the career of Dr Saraswat.

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DRDO lab up in arms against scientist’s transfer

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The employees of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), which is regarded as one of the most distinguished labs of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), are up in arms against what they have called arbitrary transfer.

By ABHINANDAN MISHRA | New Delhi | 28 January, 2018 Sunday Guardian

The employees of the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), which is regarded as one of the most distinguished labs of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), are up in arms against what they have called arbitrary transfer of a scientist who last year was named the “best lab scientist of DRDO”.

According to ADE officials, the said scientist, who has been working with the DRDO for 30 years, is being victimised for not agreeing with his seniors who wanted materials for a project to be procured from a particular company, despite the said company not matching the requirements of the project.

On 16 January 2018, on the ground of “public interest”, A.P.V.S. Prasad, “scientist-G”, who was made the project director of the coveted RUSTOM-II UAV programme of the DRDO in 2015, was moved out of the ADE to another DRDO lab in Bangalore without any notice and without taking the permission from his director.

However, official sources said that Prasad was being pressurised to give his permission to procure products for the UAV programme from a company whose product did not match the requirements of the project and when he did not relent, he was transferred.

Prasad has been credited with making sure that the much delayed India’s UAV programme got the needed push. Within two years of Prasad taking over the project, RUSTOM-II completed its maiden flight, earning him the best DRDO scientist award in 2017. An angry employees’ union of the ADE has now approached Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to intervene in the matter. Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, S. Narayanappa, who is president of the ADE civilian employees’ union, said that discriminatory transfers like this affect the morale of the scientists.

“I have been trying to speak to Dr S. Christopher (chairman of DRDO) on this issue but he is not taking my calls or responding to our messages. It was due to this that we were forced to approach the Defence Minister directly. Prasad is a very capable scientist which is clear from the work that he has done. His transfer, without taking even his director into confidence, is shocking. We are still awaiting a response from the Defence Minister. You can just imagine the kind of damage these kinds of things do to an official’s morale. He was offered multiple employment opportunities from various private corporate entities to head their division but he rejected them all,” Narayanappa said.

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Bio-vacuum toilets will keep the stench away in trains

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Bio-toilets like these will be replaced by bio-vacuum ones

By Richa Sharma | Express News Service | Published: 04th December 2017
NEW DELHI: Stinky toilets in trains will soon be flushed away. Starting January 2018, Indian Railways will roll out first 100 coaches with bio-vacuum toilets like the ones in passenger airplanes. The bio-toilets in trains will be odour free, cut down water usage by one-twentieth and will have much lesser chances of getting blocked.

The Railways has been grappling with upkeep of bio-toilets as there were several complaints of them getting blocked due to dumping of waste such as plastic bottles, paper, cardboard boxes in the pot. Trials of bio-vacuum toilets were done in the Railways’ newly-launched premium train Tejas, and it has now been decided to install them out in other trains.

“To start with, Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) will roll out 100 coach sets fitted with bio-vacuum toilets starting January 2018. Initially, these toilets will be fitted in AC-I and AC-II tier coaches of select trains

like Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto,” said a senior Railway ministry official. Foul odour and high water consumption were also major reasons that made Railways decide to replace existing bio-toilets with the bio-vacuum ones. Typically, a conventional toilet or bio-toilet uses 10-15 litres of water per flush, whereas the vacuum toilet consumes only approximately 500 ml of water for flushing.

“A bio-vacuum toilet has a suction pump that sucks waste without need for much water to flush it. This will also help in containing the foul smell as bio-digesters will eat up the waste,” the official added.
Initially, the Railways will have to shell out more money to for bio-vacuum toilets as they will have to be imported. A bio-toilet costs Rs 2.5 lakh, while a bio-vacuum one is for Rs 3.25 lakh.

“The cost is likely to come down once we plan to have bio-vaccum toilets in all coaches. The manufacturers have assured us they will set up manufacturing units in India to meet the demand of these units,” the official added.

Over 79,500 bio-toilets have been fitted in more than 22,400 coaches till June this year. In the budget, Indian Railways was allocated Rs 1,155 crore for bio-toilets in passenger trains as part of the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Mission.

In the loo-p

A bio-toilet uses 10-15 litres of water per flush while a bio-vacuum toilet consumes only around 500 ml
A bio-toilet costs Rs 2.5 lakh, a bio-vacuum one is for Rs 3.25 lakh.
Railways was given Rs 1,155 crore for bio-toilets in trains.

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SC Suspends All Engineering Degrees Obtained Between 2001 & 2005 Through Distance Courses From 3 Universities; Those After 2005 Cancelled

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BY: APOORVA MANDHANI NOVEMBER 3, 2017 4:05 PM LIVE LAW. IN
The Supreme Court has suspended the Engineering degrees granted between 2001 and 2005 to all graduates through distance learning by JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan (JRN), Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Rajasthan (IASE) and Allahabad(AAI)

The Bench comprising Justice A.K. Goel and Justice U.U. Lalit ruled that the degrees would remain suspended till the students pass an examination under the joint supervision of AICTE-UGC. It further added that “every single advantage” on the basis of the degree would also stand suspended till then.
For this purpose, the Court has directed the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to conduct appropriate written and practical tests for the concerned students. The entire expenditure for conducting the tests has been directed to be recovered from the concerned Universities.
The students would get only two chances to pass the exam, failing which their degrees will stand recalled and cancelled. Further, in case the students do not wish to appear in such tests, the Court directed refund of the money deposited by them towards tuition and other charges. The students have been given time till 15 January to exercise the option to take the tests.
The degrees obtained after the year 2005, for courses through distance learning have, however, been cancelled. The Court clarified, “Any benefit which a candidate has secured as a result of such degrees in Engineering in the nature of promotion or advancement in career shall also stand recalled. However, if any monetary benefit was derived by such candidates that monetary benefit or advantage will not be recovered by the concerned departments or employers.”
The entire amount paid by such students has been directed to be refunded by 31 May, 2018. The decision was rendered after the Court found that the three Universities had, before 2005, imparted education in technical fields through distance learning without obtaining approval from the concerned authorities. Further, while ex-postfacto permission was obtained after 2005, this permission was declared illegal by the Court, for lack of adherence to the principles laid down in this regard.
For those who had enrolled during the academic sessions 2001-2005, the Court noted that since 2004, the UGC Guidelines gave liberty to the concerned Universities to apply for the ex-postfacto approval and observed, “the matter is required to be considered with some sympathy so that interest of those students who were enrolled during the academic sessions 2001- 2005 is protected”.
This ‘sympathy’ was, however, not shown to those who had enrolled after 2005, observing that the “Policy Statements as well as warnings issued from time to time were absolutely clear” with regard to the lack of sanction to such Courses.

Factual matrix

The Court was hearing two groups of Appeals– one arising from a judgment passed by Orissa High Court and the other arising from a decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The litigation began when the Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation Limited (OLIC) refused promotion to an in-service graduate Engineer, contending that the degrees obtained by the concerned candidates through distance education from JRN were not recognized degrees. It had, therefore, contended that they could not be considered Graduate Engineers eligible for the benefits. The Orissa High Court had, however, disagreed with OLIC, directing it to consider the candidates as in-service Engineers.
The Petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court had sought a direction that degrees in Engineering obtained through distance education from certain Universities including JRN be declared invalid for the purpose of obtaining Government jobs in the State. The prayer was allowed by the Court.
The two High Courts had, therefore, rendered conflicting judgments, prompting the Supreme Court to take up the matters together.
Examine whether Deemed Universities can offer such distance education programs, the Court took note of the notifications, circulars and guidelines issued in this regard and observed that the Deemed Universities in the case at hand had sought ex-postfacto approval for their distance courses. None of these Universities had taken any prior permission from the University Grants Commission (UGC), AICTE and Distance Education Council (DEC).
While the approval was granted by the DEC, the Court ruled that the DEC was not empowered to grant such permissions without consulting the AICTE. It ruled that not only did the DEC lack jurisdiction to grant the approval, but that it had also granted the same without any inspection.
“This leads us to conclude that the permissions granted by DEC in the first instance allowing the Deemed to be Universities in question to introduce courses leading to the award of degrees in engineering were illegal and opposed to Law,” the Court ruled.
It, thereafter, went on to accept the view taken by Punjab and Haryana High Court and set aside the judgment rendered by the Orissa High Court.
Directives:
In the 118 page judgment, the Apex Court lamented the commercialization of education and highlighted the need for an oversight and regulatory mechanism for distance education degrees, especially those relating to technical education.
It then reiterated its directions, summarizing them as follows:

I. 1994 AICTE Regulations, do apply to Deemed to be Universities and the Deemed to be Universities in the present matter were not justified in introducing any new courses in Technical Education without the approval of AICTE.
II  Insofar as candidates enrolled during the Academic Sessions 2001-2005, in the present case the ex post facto approvals granted by UGC and their concerned authorities are set aside.
III Consequent to aforesaid direction No.II, all the degrees in Engineering awarded by concerned Deemed to be Universities stand suspended.
IV The AICTE shall devise the modalities to conduct an appropriate test/tests as indicated in Para 47 above. The option be given to the concerned students whose degrees stand suspended by 15.01.2018 to appear at the test/tests to be conducted in accordance with the directions in Para 47 above. Students be given not more than two chances to clear test/tests and if they do not successfully clear the test/tests within the stipulated time, their degrees shall stand cancelled and all the advantages shall stand withdrawn as stated in Paras 46 and 47 above. The entire expenditure for conducting the test/tests shall be recovered from the concerned Deemed to be Universities by 31.03.2018.
V Those students who do not wish to exercise the option, shall be refunded entire money deposited by them towards tuition fee and other charges within one month of the exercise of such option. Needless to say their degrees shall stand cancelled and all advantages/benefits shall stand withdrawn as mentioned in Para 47.
VI If the students clear the test/tests within the stipulated time, all the advantages/benefits shall be restored to them and their degrees will stand revived fully.
VII As regards students who were admitted after the Academic Sessions 2001-2005, their degrees in Engineering awarded by the concerned Deemed to be Universities through distance education mode stand recalled and be treated as cancelled. All benefits secured by such candidates shall stand withdrawn as indicated in Para 48 above. However, the entire amount paid by such students to the concerned Deemed to be Universities towards tuition fees and other expenditure shall be returned by the concerned Deemed to be Universities by 31.05.2018, as indicated in Para 48.
VIII By 31.05.2018 all the concerned Deemed to be Universities shall refund the sums indicated above in VII and an appropriate affidavit to that extent shall be filed with UGC within a week thereafter.
IX We direct the CBI to carry out thorough investigation into the conduct of the concerned officials who dealt with the matters and went about the granting permissions against the policy statement, as indicated in Para 49 above and into the conduct of institutions who abused their position to advance their commercial interest illegally. Appropriate steps can thereafter be taken after culmination of such investigation.
X The UGC shall also consider whether the Deemed to be University status enjoyed by JRN, AAI, IASE and VMRF calls for any withdrawal and conduct an inquiry in that behalf by 30.06.2018 as indicated above. If the moneys, as directed above are not refunded to the concerned students that factor shall be taken into account while conducting such exercise.
XI We restrain all Deemed to be Universities to carry on any courses in distance education mode from the Academic Session 2018- 2019 onwards unless and until it is permissible to conduct such courses in distance education mode and specific permission are granted by the concerned statutory/regulatory authorities in respect of each of those courses and unless the off-campus Centres/Study Centres are individually inspected and found adequate by the concerned Statutory Authorities. The approvals have to be course specific.
XII The UGC is further directed to take appropriate steps and implement Section 23 of the UGC Act and restrain Deemed to be Universities from using the word ‘University’ within one month from today.
XIII The Union of India may constitute a three members Committee comprising of eminent persons who have held high positions in the field of education, investigation, administration or law at national level within one month. The Committee may examine the issues indicated above and suggest a road map for strengthening and setting up of oversight and regulatory mechanism in the relevant field of higher education and allied issues within six months. The Committee may also suggest oversight mechanism to regulate the Deemed to be Universities. The Union of India may examine the said report and take such action as may be considered appropriate within one month thereafter and file an affidavit in this Court of the action taken on or before August 312018. The matter shall be placed for consideration of this aspect on 11.09.2018.”

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Making Money in DRDO – A simple guide for Dummies

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More stern and steadfast our honorable PM Modi ji becomes to eradicate corruption, more derisive and deceitful DRDO officials become to devise novel methods to siphon off public funds. They are least bothered about propriety or financial prudence in handling public money; on the other hand, they have mastered expertise of the methods to simply transfer funds for non-existing civil works and projects. They are so audacious and open in corrupt practices, at the end of the day they cock a snookat the ever struggling government. They have forgotten their duty to serve the nation and more afflicted with desire for power, pelf and perks and deep in corruption.

One of the civil works wing in DRDO, namely, CCE(R&D) is made for, made by and made of DRDO Scientists,is well known for making money out of nothing. Many government departments indulge in corruption by 30 to 40 %;but, here’s a department expertise in making 100% money for fictitious work. The steps followed by Bangalore based Dummies Guru and his stooges (Aka Alibaba and Chaalis Chor) are given below:

Step 1: Decide how much public funds to be siphoned off and create a fictitious work. Identify a subordinate office with Amiable Docile Employees, who will not question any atrocious attitude of Dalal (of corruption) Guru, who is basically heading a bunch of Audacious Egoistic Reckless Officers.

Step 2: Make a statement of case for this subordinate officer without their knowledge whatever crude way, as those sitting in higher office will not scrutinize the case. The sanctioning authority needs just one paper mentioning amount with signatures, no need to be clear about scope of work, building, work site etc.

Step 3: Move papers secretly without finance concurrence as the work referred is to another organization, this civil work was never existed.Get sanction of work to ever obliging Project Management Office and funds bypassing finance with audacious change of code head from revenue items into capital items (like staircase railings are shown as capital items and there is no need for finance concurrence up to 1.2 crores) and take sanction from DRDO top within this limit.

Step 4: All documents and work fabricated, silently work completion certificate created and funds transferred to predetermined contractor.

Step 5: After sharing booty, all gangster of gangs, celebrate the event watching a movie titled Hum Sab Chor Hai.

In this sample case, A Pretending Nangnaach Timid fellow, who helped earlier his boss, who was Master of Self Certification and fake doctorates in obscure topics, in escaping from the hot wheels taxi misuse case, is again at his old games. He sells himself to be tool in creating non-existing works, fabricating statement of case and obtain surreptitiously sanction for a work. He has heisted the heinous crime on non-suspecting Amiable Docile Employees of another organization. This is a case of blatant misuse of power and fraud on the system. This person even today shamelessly used taxi every day morning and evening from his house to office and back at the official cost while taxi will run vacant two times about 35 to 40 km just to take care of him.

The above example of clearly shows how these greats are at play in obtaining sanction for non-existent works with least respect to the rule book (surprisingly quite often emphasized by own vigilance division), that too for the fabricated work for the other organization. This is especially true for CCE (R&D) which is run by DRDO scientists and any time at the beckon of DG’s and those at HQr. They can do anything and get away with public funds running into lakhs and crores.

It wouldn’t be far off from truth that these worthies, the so called upholder of discipline and legitimate rights to rule DRDO (as per their wish and whims), have mastered the methods to circumvent the well laid down procedures in the system and financial controls to siphon off the public funds with impunity. Now, see the fun, once this report on the ice berg of systematized corruption is out, these dalals of corruption will, instead of retrospection and correction, start witch hunting because how dare someone can question top person indulging in money making business.

Jai ho DRDO.

Drdo

High-end resorts, hotels thriving in Landour cantonment area

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By ABHINANDAN MISHRA | New Delhi | 6 May, 2017 – Sunday Guardian
Manohar Parrikar had ordered a probe, but with a change of guard in defence ministry, things have stalled.

The Institute of Technology Management, DRDO at Landour cantonment

Private resorts and hotels in Landour cantonment, Mussoorie, continue to function even though former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had ordered a probe, nearly nine months ago, to find out how they were allowed to come up in the high security sensitive zone.

Mussoorie based officials accused that the defence ministry was trying to “cover up” the matter to save the skin of “influential people” involved in the business.

The matter had first come to light in July last year when the estate officer of Institute of Technology Management (ITM), which is a Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) laboratory, wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and then to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), seeking inquiry into how high-end resorts and hotels were functioning in the cantonment area when no such permission was given by the government departments concerned.

Following the uproar, Parrikar had ordered a probe. But the “probe” seems to have “died down” with a change of guard in the ministry.

“Nothing has happened in that matter. Only initially, once, a senior official had come in the last week of July to look into the matter. The resorts and hotels, without having valid permission to run, continue to function without any hindrance despite the fact that they are situated in a cantonment area. Many foreign nationals are running these resorts, so you can understand how much of a security threat is involved. It is very shameful that the MoD has chosen to ignore this issue and has taken it so casually,” a senior official associated with the DRDO said.

As per a 12 May 2016 letter, which has been accessed by this newspaper, the Landour Cantonment Board had not given any licenses to any persons or firms to run guest houses in the cantonment area.

According to officials, neither the CBI, nor the CVC nor the MoD had so far even interacted with the public servants who are aware of how the resorts and hotels were illegally constructed.

“I do not know what kind of probe they are doing. Even if they are not serious about the probe and just want to do a formality, they should have at least called those people who are aware of the matter and spoken to them before giving a clean chit to the owners of those hotels and resorts which are running illegally. These resorts could not have come-up without the complicity of hoteliers and MoD officials and hence no one wants to take the probe further,” another senior official of DRDO stated.