Governance: Accountability

PIL filed against IAS officer Durga Sakthi's suspension: The PIL filed by advocate M L Sharma also made the UP government and the Centre as respondents.
Villagers chase away sand mafia in Uttar Pradesh: The trucks and machinery left behind by the fleeing mob have been impounded by the police, but they are yet to register a complaint.
Political parties in India set to get immunity from RTI Act: The Indian govt has okayed an amendment to the transparency law stating that declaring political parties as public authorities would ‘hamper their smooth internal functioning’.
Parties in India concerned over erosion of Parl supremacy: An all-party meeting voiced concern over ‘erosion of supremacy’ of the Indian Parliament.
Indian woman officer in trouble for ‘uprightness’: Durga Shakti Nagpal, a 2009 batch IAS officer, was suspended after she got two dozen FIR registered against those involved in illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh.
Indian govt for keeping political parties out of RTI ambit: India’s Central Information Commission last month held that some of the national parties have the character of public authority.
India needs systemic reforms in governance: B G Verghese: India should march ahead despite all the existing cynicism around its achievements as a nation, exhorts senior Indian journalist B G Verghese.
Effective public service can be transformative: Tharoor: “If used effectively, public service can pull people out of difficult conditions,” said Shashi Tharoor, India’s Minister of State for Human Resource Development.
Will the political parties in India enjoy RTI exemption?: India’s flagship Right to Information Act (RTI) empowers a citizen to seek time-bound information on all matters of governance by paying a fee of Rs 10.
Rethink aid to Pakistan, British MPs tell DfID: With a recent news report alleging that development aid to Pakistan was not being used for the intended purposes, MPs have asked DfID to take stock of the money going to Pakistan.