National
Centre opposes plea against Asthana’s appointment as CBI Special Director
New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS) The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it was opposing the plea by NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Special Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Attornery General K.K. Venugopal told the bench of Justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre that the central government would oppose the plea against Asthana’s appointment.
Initially the court said that it would hear the matter on Monday (November 20) but later made it Friday (November 24) as counsel Prashant Bhushan appearing for the NGO said they wanted to file some additional documents in support of their plea.
On this Attorney General said they too be given a copy of the additional documents to respond to them as they were opposing the plea.
The petitioner NGO has told the court that Asthana’s appointment was opposed by investigating agency’s head Alok Verma as his name figured in a corruption case being investigated by the agency.
The CBI had filed the charge-sheet in the case in August. It concerned alleged payouts to various public servants by the Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech Group and Sandesara Group.
Common Cause in its PIL contended that the appointment of Asthana was “illegal, arbitrary, mala fide and in violation of the principle of impeccable integrity and institutional integrity as laid down by the top court”.
The petitioner NGO also said that Asthana’s name allegedly figured in “Diary 2011” which was recovered during raids by the Income Tax Department on June 28, 2011, from the premises of the Sterling Biotech and Sandesara Group of Companies.
The said diary the allegedly carried hand-written entries on financial transactions between January 1 and June 28, 2011.
The matter was investigated by the CBI and the charge-sheet filed on August 30.
Common Cause has sought direction to the Centre that Asthana be transferred out of the CBI till investigation into the matter was completed.
The court has been told that Asthana was promoted despite non-compliance of the government’s order on disclosure of asset belonging to the officer or acquired on his behalf by any member of his family.
It has also sought direction to the Centre and the CBI to produce the entire record related to the selection and appointment of Asthana as Special Director, including the agenda and the minutes of the Selection Committee meeting held on October 21.
It has also demanded production of a two-page note and material placed before the Committee by Verma, objecting to the proposal to promote Asthana.
The petitioner had in December 2016 moved the top court for quashing of the appointment of Asthana as interim Director of CBI after earlier Director Anil Sinha demitted office on his superannuation.
For making Asthana an interim Director, just two days before Sinha was to retire on December 2, 2016, then Special Director R.K. Dutta was transferred to the Home Ministry by creating a post of Special Secretary by upgrading by two layers the post of Joint Secretary.
The top court had issued notice to the Centre on Common Cause’s plea on December 9, 2016.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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