Justice Sajjan Singh Kothari Lokayukta of Rajasthan 

Former judge of the Rajasthan High Court Justice Sajjan Singh Kothari was sworn in as Lokayukta on Monday, Governor Margaret Alva administered him oath of office in the presence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

 

Chief Justice Amitava Roy, members of council of ministers, BJP State President Vasundhara Raje and senior officers were present during the ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur on Monday.

 

The post had been lying vacant since May last year after the retirement of G L Gupta.

 

Kothari’s selection was made by a panel that included the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court.

‘It’s back to school’ time for 13,500 CBSE school principals

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New Delhi March 25, 2013

Come April 1, 2013, Principals of over 13500 schools in over 30 states across the country following the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum would spend at least a week in the coming year to train themselves in effective leadership and school management.

In what is seen as one of the biggest initiatives mandated by CBSE to take Principals, Vice Principals and Head Mistresses (and of course, Head Masters) back to school, they have been mandated to compulsorily spend at least 7 days learning a range of skills oriented and behavioural programs.

The flagship 5-day behavioural program on Leadership and School management would be offered in both residential and a non-residential format.

This program is divided into two parts of behavioral learning on leadership that would include among others unraveling leadership styles, goal setting, collaboration and team building, vision building, time management, conflict resolution.

The technical learning would bring school heads up to speed on many reforms and policies of CBSE and Government like Right to Education, students not being marked only on their final examination marks but through Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE), using technology for both school administration and enhancing learning and financial management. 

On being assigned to offer this program, Santhosh Babu, founding Managing Director, Organisation Development Alternatives said, “We are delighted to partner this breakthrough initiative of CBSE that will empower Principals to act as chief executives of their respective schools and strengthen their leadership capabilities”

According to CBSE official spokesperson, “In keeping with the changing times we believe the School Principals too need to expand their leadership capability to manage the entire education process.

“The leadership and school management program will empower them to play a bigger role in leading their schools and to improve the overall education process,” the spokesperson added.

Terming it as a as a big opportunity to equip and hone leadership capabilities of School Principals, Santhosh Babu said, “This 5-day two-part program has the potential to impact the vision and values of their teachers and to manage the education process in nurseries (schools) that prepare future generations of rising India.

“Specialist teams from ODA shall bring in vast knowledge, skills and experience of developing leadership in the corporate sector to help Principals to open their minds to new ways of leading and managing schools of the 21st century.” Santhosh added.

Additional notes to the Editors:

In addition to this programs the heads of schools will be able to choose one day Capacity building programmes on a range subjects like mathematics, physical education, life and speaking and listening skills.

In addition, one day programs on health, wellbeing and reading will also be available. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) will offer a one day program on The Enviromnent related issues.

About Organisation Development Alternatives (ODA)

OD Alternatives (ODA) is a specialist consulting firm that helps organizations and leaders shift limiting beliefs and bring about lasting positive change. ODA’s team of OD experts, led by founding managing director Santhosh Babu, coaches company CEOs and celebrities to help them realize their true potential.

ODA has invested tens of thousands of person hours into learning to use development tools and methodologies to create sustainable and fundamental shifts in mind-sets and breakthrough in performance.

ODA consultants use high energy, interactive and creative facilitation style to connect with individuals in a non-judgmental attitude that appeals to people across cultures and industries.

ODA’s consulting areas can be categorised in three broad areas:

Coaching and Mentoring Senior Leaders on their transformation journey

ODA consultants have taken several senior leaders around the world. through a proprietary “Brand You” workshop to help identify their values and ‘brand’ themselves.  The workshop first held in 2000 has evolved with each subsequent session. A book by Santhosh Babu on ‘The Art of Developing Leaders’ (Wiley, 2012) delves into the coaching methodology and tools that help organizational leaders and professional coaches.

Developing leadership capabilities in senior managers, high potential leaders

Using an integrated Leadership Development process, ODA has worked with organisations like Airtel, Engineers India, MSD, NIIT, Novartis, Steria and Vodafone to foster holistic and authentic leaders.

Transformation and Culture change interventions

ODA’s interventions focus on transformation and culture change within

organizations. Some of ODA’s recent assignments include Abbott Vascular Asia-Pacific, Bausch and Lomb, Baxter, Godfrey Philips, Intel, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Nestle, Pepsico, and TVS and Sons.

For more details please

Visit: www.odalternatives.com

Write: OD Alternatives Consultancy, E-13, East of Kailash, N Delhi 110 065

Email: contactus@odalternatives.com

Call: Tel: 011-41323810/11/12

or 

Contact:

Sanjiv Kataria, Strategic Communications and PR Counsel

+91 98100 48095 sanjiv dot kataria at gmail dot com

A Raaja : Pranab,Singh,were informed on 2G licencing policy

2G scam: Raja accuses Vahanvati of telling untruths against him

Former Telecom Min A Raja, the main accused in 2G spectrum scam, has told the JPC that PM Manmohan Singh was in the loop over policy decisions and has accused Attorney General G E Vahanvati of telling a series of untruths against him.  

Raja, who could not personally appear before the JPC, has responded to a questionnaire sent by the committee, saying the Prime Minister and the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee were kept informed on the licencing policy.

In his 17-page note, Raja has said that he had "exchanged letter" with the Prime Minister on November 2, 2007 on various issues relating to the telecom sector and also had subsequent personal discussions on the subject.

"It was agreed in these discussions that the Minister of Communication and IT would have discussions with Sh Pranab Mukherjee, the then External Affairs Minister, since he was heading the Group of Ministers on vacation of spectrum," he said in his March 13 note to JPC.

He said discussions were held between him and Mukherjee in December, 2007 on subscriber base criteria for allotment of additional spectrum, issue of dual technology and issue of new licences.

Giving details of the sequence of events in run up to the allocation done in January 2008, Raja said Vahanvati, the then Solicitor General, was also present in these discussions as same issues were the subject of litigation before Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).

It is evident that the letter of 26.12.2007 sent by the Minister of Communication and IT to the Hon'ble PM is nothing but an encapsulation of the note given by the Solicitor General and the subsequent discussions between the SG, External Affairs Minister and Minister of Communication and IT.

Hitting out at Vahanvati for his contention before JPC that the controversial press release regarding 2G licences was changed at the last minute by him (Raja) in 2008 with a different pen, Raja said the Solicitor General had defended the same press release for two years in different courts without raising any question on its authenticity.

He said for the purpose of discussions with Mukherjee, Vahanvati had prepared a note dealing with subscriber base criteria for allotment of additional spectrum, issue of dual technology, manner in which spectrum will be allocated and the issue of new telecom licences.

"...Thus government is obliged to scrutinise the pending applications and if the applicants are found eligible, to issue licences on a first-come-first-served basis..." Raja told JPC quoting Vahanvati's note.

Raja said based on Vahanvati's note, on December 26, 2007 Mukherjee also prepared his own note and forwarded both the documents to the Prime Minister.

He said on the same day, he also sent a letter to the Prime Minister based on the discussions with Mukherjee and Vahanvati.

Hitting back at the AG over his deposition before JPC, Raja said Vahanvati's claim that he was not involved in any policy decision by the government was not correct as his note to Mukherjee contained the "essence" of the entire policy of the DoT.

Raja said Vahanvati's explanation that DoT had approached him with the press release to know whether there was a stay in any court on the issue of licences is "absurd and unbelievable".

"This factual point was well within the knowledge of the DoT, and the SG's opinion was being asked on the policy," the DMK MP told the JPC.

In reply to a specific query by JPC as to when was the sentence 'press release approved as amended' recorded by him in the file, Raja said it was written before the file was sent to Vahanvati.