Govt follows ‘zero tolerance’ on sexual harassment against women Army officers

THE government has issued instructions on ‘zero tolerance’ towards sexual harassment cases against women Army officers. Also, orders have been issued on definition of sexual harassment and procedure to deal with such complaints, defence minister AK Antony informed two Lok Sabha Members through separate written replies on Monday.

It was also informed in Parliament that there were six cases of alleged exploitation or harassment of women officers in the Armed Forces reported during the last three years, out of which three culprits were punished. In case of Air Force, there were five such cases in the last three years out of which punishments were awarded in three cases.

Significantly, the present strength of women officers is 1012 in the Army excluding Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service. Twelve women officers are however due to retire in 2010 after 14 years of service. According to the present policy, the tenure of both women and men Short Service Commissioned (SSC) officers is 10 years but extendable up to 14 years.

But women SSC officers are not yet eligible for being considered for grant of Permanent Commission in all branches. Permanent Commission to SSC (women) officers has been granted prospectively in Judge Advocate General (JAG) Department and Army Education Corps (AEC) of Army. Also, women officers in the Indian Army are not assigned to the combat arms. A study carried out by Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff in 2006 on all aspects of employment of women officers in the Armed forces, recommended exclusion of women officers from close combat roles.

Incentive package for Central govt employees in J and K to remain for another year

Good news for the Central government employees working in Kashmir valley, as the Centre has decided to extend the incentive package for a period of one year up to December 31,2010. Those working in Central PSUs will also be eligible for the package.

Click here for the DoPT CIRCULAR, dated March 15 2010

Action and Appointments

a) Rakesh Garg, a 1980 batch UP cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of food and public distribution.

b) Vijay Kumar Thallam, a 1983 batch AP cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of rural development.

c) GV Venugopala Sarma, a 1986 batch Orissa cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs.

d) The deputation tenure of SJM Gillani, a 1994 batch IPS and DIG, CBI has been extended for a further period of two years or up to March 20, 2012.

e) The comptent authority has approved premature repatriation of DC Jain, a 1991 batch Rajasthan cadre IPS, and DIG, CBI to his parent cadre with immediate effect.

f) The competent authority has approved curtailment of deputation tenure of Zaki Ahmed, a 1993 batch UP cadre IPS and DIG, CBI so as to enable him to take up his new assigenment as DIG in National Crime Records Bureau on lateral shift basis.

g) Prabhu Dayal Meena, a 1980 batch MP cadre IAS has been appointed as joint secretary, in the ministry of tribal affairs.

h) The ACC has approved the proposal of the ministry of home affairs for inter-cadre transfer of Ms Rohini Katoch, a 2008 batch Jharkhand cadre IPS from Jharkhand to Karnataka