Secretary General Lok Sabha Utpal Kumar Singh has been given one year extension in his tenure on November 30. He is a former 1986 batch IAS officer of Uttarakhand cadre.

(We said this on October 4, 2023)

Mrs Neeraja has been empanelled for the post of Secretary/Secretary equivalent in Government of India. She is a 1990 batch IFoS officer of  UP cadre.

Shyam Bhagat Negi has been empanelled for holding Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1990 batch IPS officer of HP cadre.

Alok Shukla has been empanelled for holding Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1988 batch IRS-C&IT officer.

P Daniel has been empanelled for holding Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1989 batch IDES officer.

Rashmi Chowdhary has been empanelled for holding Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. Chowdhary is a 1989 batch IRPS officer.

Anthony de Sa, former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh  successfully defended his doctoral thesis on “The impact of the RERA regulatory framework on the real estate sector in India”, and has been awarded a PhD in the Built Environment by Amity University, Noida. He is a 1980 batch retired IAS officer of MP cadre.

Hanif Qureshi has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1996 batch IPS officer of Haryana cadre.

Shubha Thakur has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. Thakur is a 1989 batch CSS officer.

Vikram Sahay has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1992 batch IRS-IT officer.

Deepak Narain has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1993 batch IA&AS officer.

Tripti Gurha has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. Gurha is a 1993 batch IRTS officer.

Rahul Navin has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1993 batch IRS-IT officer.

Anurag Bajpai has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1994 batch IFoS officer of Manipur cadre.

Alok Pande has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India.  He is a 1994 batch IPoS officer.

Sanjeev Kumar Jindal has been empanelled for the post of Additional Secretary/Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1989 batch CSS officer.

Sanjukta Mudgal has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. Mudgal is a 1990 batch IFoS officer of MP cadre.

Asit Gopal has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1990 batch IFoS officer of MP cadre.

Anant Swarup has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1992 batch IRPS officer.

Navaljit Kapoor has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. Kapoor is a 1992 batch IRS-IT officer.

Manoj Pandey has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1992 batch IRS-IT officer.

Puja Singh Mandal has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. Mandol is a 1995 batch IA&AS officer.

Sunil Kumar has been empanelled for holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts in the Government of India. He is a 1995 batch IFoS officer of Punjab cadre.

Himanshu Gupta has been appointed as Secretary, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi. He is a 2012 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre.

(We said this on Nov 24, 2023)

Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath, ED, MRPL, has been selected for the post of Managing Director, Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) at a Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) meeting held on November 30, 2023. Three candidates were interviewed for the same.

(We said this on Nov 28, 2023)

Ashok Kumar Sharma has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME). He is a 1994 batch IDSE officer.

Nazeem Ahmed A has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs. He is a 2011 batch IOFS officer.

Ms Tanu Singh has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Justice. She is a 2012 batch ITradS officer.

Abhishek Anand has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Women & Child Development. He is a 2013 batch IRS-C&CE officer.

Ms Yashasvi Mund has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Delhi. She is a 2011 batch ITS officer.

Upender Singh Rawat, presently High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Burundi, with residence in Kampala. He is a 1998 batch IFS officer.

Two IRS(C&IT) officers were promoted to Pr Chief Commissioner/Pr DG. They are- Ms Renu K Jagdev and Ms Rashmi Lakhanai. Both are 1989 batch officers.

The deputation tenure of Khwairakpam Pratap Singh working as CVO, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), Shillong, has been extended for a further period of two years upto January 3, 2026. He is a 2000 batch IRPS officer.

Ms Smriti Verma, ED (Fin), MRVC, has been entrusted with an additional charge of Director (Finance), MRVC.

Consequent upon repatriation from the Tamil Nadu government, Ravi A Robert Jarad and Shashi Selhar Pandey have reported to their parent DoT. Both are ITS officers.

Three AAOs have been assigned new postings due to the merger of the Civil Division of the Ministry of I&B at various stations. Uma Shankar Gupta has been posted to MoHUA, Coochbehar, while Sandipan Das was shifted to Jal Shakti, Farakka and Sunil Meena to CBIC, Vadodara.

The maiden edition of the high level virtual interaction between Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR) was hosted by the Indian Navy on Wednesday. Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff interacted with Heads of Navies/ Maritime Agencies and Senior Leadership from IOR littorals, viz., Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania graced the occasion.  During the interaction, the Principals from participating nations exchanged candid views on common maritime challenges and the need to address them in a collective and cooperative manner. Adm R Hari Kumar, CNS, emphasised the need to find 'Regional Solutions to Regional Problems'.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has invited applications from retired government officials (Deputy secretary/ under secretary or from equivalent ministries/ government departments for the post of consultant. The applications must reach the concerned department latest by December 9, 2023.

The Cabinet has decided that the Central government will provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for a period of five years with effect from 1 January, 2024. This is a historic decision that places PMGKAY amongst the World’s biggest social welfare schemes aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security for 81.35 crore persons, at an estimated cost of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore over a 5 year period.

Air Marshal Makarand Ranade has taken over the charge of Director General Inspection and Safety at Air HQ New Delhi. The Air Marshal was awarded Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) in 2006 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020. He succeeds Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor who superannuated on November 30.

The Indian Navy has decided to appoint the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship in sync with its philosophy of 'all roles-all ranks' for female personnel, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said.

Dipankar Marik has been promoted to the grade of Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes on ad-hoc basis.

Ashish Varma has been empanelled and promoted to the grade of Pr Chief Commissioner/Pr DG of Customs and Indirect Taxes in the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) w.e.f December 1, 2023.

Manish Goyal and Dr Ashir Tyagi have been promoted to the grade of Principal Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes in the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) w.e.f. December 1, 2023. Similarly, Shivaji Hanumant Dange and Gaurav Kumar have been promoted to the post of Principal Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes.

Santosh Tewari has been appointed Deputy Director General of Forests (DDGF), Regional Office, MoEFCC, Dehradun on deputation basis under the Central Staffing Scheme of the Ministry (CSS-MoEFCC).  He is a 1993 batch IFoS officer of Bihar cadre.

REC Foundation, the CSR arm of REC Limited, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) in New Delhi for the renovation of the auditoriums, introducing state-of-art facilities at a cost of Rs.8 crores. The signing ceremony, held at REC's Corporate office, was attended by senior management  representatives, including V K Singh, Director (Projects), Mrs Taruna Gupta, Executive Director, and other esteemed officers of REC. Dr. Ajay Shukla, Director & Medical Superintendent, represented Dr. RML Hospital & ABVIMS, in the presence of Dr. Thejaswi HT, Professor & Head (Forensic Medicine). This project aims to enhance the medical infrastructure at Dr. RML Hospital & ABVIMS, The revamped Auditorium will be equipped with cutting-edge technology to provide a conducive environment for collaboration and learning. V K Singh, expressing his enthusiasm about the partnership, stated, "REC is dedicated to making a positive impact on society, and this collaboration aligns with our mission. We believe the upgraded Auditorium will contribute significantly to advancing medical education and healthcare services." REC Foundation, as the CSR arm of REC, actively engages in projects that promote sustainable development. This partnership underscores REC's commitment to fostering positive change in the healthcare sector. REC Limited, a Maharatna CPSE established in 1969, under Ministry of Power, provides long term loans and other finance products for Power-Infrastructure sector comprising of Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and new technologies like Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage, Green Hydrogen etc. More recently REC has also diversified into the Non-Power Infrastructure sector comprising of Roads & Expressways, Metro Rail, Airports, IT Communication, Social & Commercial Infrastructure (Educational Institution, Hospitals), Ports and Electro-Mechanical (E&M) works in respect of various other sectors like Steel, Refinery, etc.  The loan book of REC exceeds Rs 4,74,275 crore.

Mining giant NMDC delivers its best ever November month performance in company history, producing 3.83 MnT and selling 3.79 MnT of iron ore in November 2023. With these figures, the company recorded a 6% growth in production and 24.7% upswing in sales over CPLY. Continuing to deliver exceptional volumes, NMDC’s cumulative iron ore production has now touched 27.31 MnT and cumulative sales stand at 27.78 MnT upto November 2023. A stellar growth year for NMDC, this is the company’s highest ever cumulative production and sales upto November 2023. Over CPLY, the cumulative production is 17.11% higher while sales have grown by 23.55%.  Speaking on NMDC’s booming volumes, Amitava Mukherjee, CMD (Additional Charge) said, “NMDC’s performances month after month signal a future where the company stands at the forefront of transformation in the mining sector. We are targeting not only a volume shift but preparing for a paradigm shift in how we conduct business to go from owning 1/6th to more than a quarter of the domestic market share by 2030.”

Ms Anita Meena has been appointed as Director in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. She is a 2008 batch IRS-IT officer.

Ms Swapna Devireddy has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation. She is a 2010 batch IRS-IT officer.

Mohamed Ashraf J S has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Financial Services. He is 2014 batch IA&AS officer.

Amam Shah has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GCCL Infrastructure & Projects Limited.

Ravi Kapoor has been appointed as Non-Executive Director and Chairman of Heubach Colorants India Limited.
 

Ramesh Dugar has been re-appointed as Independent Director of Refex Industries Limited.

Anand Subhashchandra Shah has been appointed as Additional Director of XO Infotech Limited.

Manoj Chatrabhuj Brahmbhatt has resigned from the position of Whole-Time Director of XO Infotech Limited.

Krishnan Ramanathan has resigned from the position of Non-Executive Independent Director of Refex Industries Limited.

Gaurav Munjal has resigned from the position of Non-Executive Independent Director of Wonder Electricals Limited.

Dr. Mandeep Maitra has resigned from the position of Non-executive, Independent Director of Suryoday Small Finance Bank Limited with effect from January 31, 2024.

Narendra Mairpady has ceased to be Independent Director of Adani Enterprises Limited consequent upon completion of his tenure.

Silkyara Tunnel Project

The work on Silkyara Tunnel Project in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, spanning four and a half kilometers, is set to resume. The tunnel made headlines after 41 workers were trapped when the tunnel collapsed on Diwali day. According to the Ministry of Road and Transport this is a crucial segment of the government's extensive 900 km 'Char Dham Yatra All Weather Road' project. The pause in construction is to facilitate a safety audit and repair of damaged sections. Needless to say this safety audit will only be eyewash and the government has in the past ignored the genuine concerns of the environmentalists in building this road.

Aditya Malviya

Breakdown of the medical expenses incurred during the cataract surgery

The reimbursement of appellant’s cataract surgery raised with Insurers was restricted to Rs. 30,000 by TPA. The appellant submitted that he is entitled to Rs 50,000/- i.e. 10% of sum insured but the insurers restricted as per GIPSA whereas no such restriction was in the policy and also the insurers failed to share complete details of GIPSA which apparently had lenses of lower specifications than the ones actually installed by the doctor in the surgery. The CIC observed that the Appellant's claim of entitlement to Rs. 50,000 for the cataract surgery as per their insurance policy is a significant matter that deserves immediate attention. Further, it is essential to recognize the larger public interest in this matter. The transparency and accuracy of information related to medical insurance claims and expenses are of great concern to the general public. In an age where healthcare costs are rising, individuals rely on their insurance policies for financial support during medical procedures. The lack of transparency and potential discrepancies in the process can significantly affect public trust in the insurance system. The CIC directed the PIO of United India Insurance Company Limited to furnish the requested information including a detailed breakdown of the medical expenses incurred during the cataract surgery, along with all relevant documents and justifications for the decisions made, free of cost, to the appellant.

Comments This order would pave the way for the transparency in the processing of the insurance claims. Hopefully, the insurers would provide the detailed breakdown to the

Citation: Mr. Ajay Kumar Gupta v. United India Insurance Co. Ltd., CIC/UIICL/A/2023/632292-UM; Date of Decision: 01.11.2023

Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

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