Court dismisses IAS actor’s plea; says no to bureaucrats acting in films, TV serials

Shivaram in a film

BUREAUCRATS can no longer act in films or in TV serials as Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed a writ petition filed by a 1986 batch IAS, K Shivaram challenging a 2004 state government order barring officials from acting in films.

Karnataka cadre IAS officer Shivaram who is principal secretary in charge of industries, has acted in six Kannada films viz. Baanalle Madhuchnadrakhe, Vasantha Kaavya, Prathibatane, Yaarige Bede Dudu, Khala Nayaka and Game.

The High Court said that the films Shivaram acted were produced as business ventures of the producers. “He could not directly or indirectly involve (himself) in such business ventures, even if it is to be accepted that he derived no monetary benefit from the venture. The very fact of acting in the film when alternatively employed is impermissible. The involvement is complete and total and it is what actors are paid for,” the Judge said in its order on Tuesday.

IAS actor Shivaram had claimed that the ban affected his constitutional right.

Lahiri’s tenure at ADB extended

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the extension of tenure of Dr Ashok K Lahiri as Executive Director, Asian Development Bank (ADB), for a further period of one year beyond June 30, 2011.

Action and Appointments

a) ACC has approved in-situ elevation of 1979 batch Assam cadre IAS, Vinay Sheet Oberoi, to the level of additional secretary with effect from July 15, 2010, the date he joined as Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO.

b) The appointment of 1977 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS Ashok Thakur as secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, has been cancelled. Now, Vinod Kumar Pipersenia, a 1980 batch Assam cadre IAS, presently in the cadre, will be the new  secretary of National Commission for Scheduled Castes in the rank and pay of additional secretary.

c) Ms Nisha Singh, a 1987 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the ministry of urban development in place of AK Mehta, a 1988 batch Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS who was earlier appointed as CVO, DFCCI.