SN Jayaram, Health & Food Safety commissioner, Karnataka : ENFORCEMENT OF FOOD SAFETY ACT 2006

BANGALORE, June 22, 2014         

Did you know that if a shop or a manufacturer sells you a food product that lacks the 'prescribed standards', they can be fined up to Rs. 5 lakhs?

They can also be made to cough up a penalty of up to Rs. 10 lakhs if their products are 'adulterated' or if they are misleading people through wrong advertisements.

They may also attract huge penalty if their products are either made or sold under unhygienic conditions or they provide wrong information about ingredients.

 These provisions have been made in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. All that the consumers need to do is lodge a complaint with the Health Commissioner who is also the Food Safety Commissioner either in person or over phone.

Food Safety Commissioner S.N. Jayaram told reporters here on Saturday that the government would launch a Statewide drive from July 1 against erring food business operators.

Do not hang carcasses

“The  meat shop owners should not hang carcasses in front of their shops, but should have a display cabinet to protect the meat from dust and unhygienic conditions inside their premises. Every shop should have the display cabinet before July 1, he said. 

‘Check for ISI mark on water bottle’
 Food Safety Commissioner S.N. Jayaram came out with a shocking disclosure that nearly 60 per cent of the packaged drinking water in Bangalore city did not have ISI certification though rules make it mandatory.

“If the packaged drinking water does not have ISI mark, then it is meant for industrial use,” he said, and appealed to consumers to check for ISI mark on the container or bottles of packaged water before buying them. According to the law, licences of the shops that sell packaged drinking water without ISI certification could be cancelled, he said.

New Regime

 S.N. Jayaram said a board containing the details of officials, their addresses and telephone numbers for helping people reach them in case of adulteration or poor quality of food should be placed in front of all eateries and retail outlets.

Though hotels too were controlled by this Act, the drive was not focussing on them for now as there was a case in this regard before the court, he said. He said August 4 was the last date for food business operators to register themselves and get licence. Violators could face imprisonment of six months and penalty of Rs. 5 lakh. Of the nearly 4 lakh food business operators in the State, only 1.3 lakh had registered themselves so far. There is provision for online registration as well.

Help line

Toll-free number : 1800-425-13825 for people to register their complaints.
For further details on Food safety Act visit : www.foodsafety.kar.nic.in
Official email ID of the food safety officer in Bangalore : dobbmpsouth@gmail.com

Citizens may also contact (080) 23465403 with complaints.

Link :http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/drive-against-erring-food-business-operators-from-july-1-in-karnataka/article6137045.ece

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Enforcement-of-Food-Safety-Act-from-Aug/2014/06/22/article2293591.ece

SN Jayaram, IAS, Commissioner KHB - Karnataka Budget 2012, Is progressive

Karnataka government has decided to provide low-cost housing to the low-income groups and the government will allocate Rs 1,439 crore for the housing sector. Under the housing scheme, Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda announced an increase in subsidy of Rs 75,000 in that sector. The state government will also provide the per unit cost for construction of houses to Rs 1 lakh.

On the other hand, SN Jayaram, Commissioner of Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has considered the project as a progressive one and said, “The budget has gone a long way to ensure housing is affordable to the economically weaker sections of the society and to a large extent it provides impetus to the scheme.” 

The experts has estimated that the low-housing scheme will not support the housing sector much. In the positive move it has been found that there is a reduction in the stamp duty from 6% to 5% on conveyances and sales deeds, that will boost to the real estate industry. Meanwhile, over 1,500 plots in four regions have been already distributed to the low-income groups by the government under the Nanna Mane Yojana and has considered to expand this scheme to more areas in this fiscal year, said Mr.Jayaram

Link : http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_karnataka-budget-cheap-home-for-underprivileged_1665789

SN Jayaram IAS, Regional Commissioner- Can MPs, MLAs vote in mayoral polls?

Have city MLAs and MPs been violating the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act by voting during mayoral elections? With just two days left for these elections, there is utter confusion over their voting rights.

As per election rules of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, only corporators have the right to vote during the election of a mayor. But the KMC Act 1976 bars those nominated to the corporation from voting and is silent on voting rights of MLAs/MPs. Assuming they had voting rights, 28 MLAs and five MPs from the city have been exercising their franchise and electing the mayor since 1996.

Regional commissioner SN Jayaram, presiding officer for these mayoral polls, has written to the government seeking a clarification on voting rights. He told TOI: "The election will be conducted as per rules. There's confusion with regard to voting for mayor's elections. As per the rules, the first council meet of the year should elect the mayor and at the meet MLAs, MPs, MLCs will also be present along with councillors. I have sought a clarification on whether voting power lies with MLAs, MPs, MLCs," he said.

A senior official pointed out: "This issue has been taken up for the first time. It's now a fight between election rules of the KMC Act and Constitution of Corporation which is in the KMC Act itself."
Sources pointed out that the issue could have been set aside to enable MLAs choose own candidates.
Unmindful of the confusion, BBMP has already despatched letters to all MLAs/MPs to participate in the April 29, 2011 council meeting which is expected to elect a new mayor.

KMC Act on elections
According to Chapter 3 - Election Rules of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976 which lays down rules for the election of mayor, deputy mayor, members of the standing committee and chairmen of standing committee specifically says the power of electing them lies with councillors. The rules don't mention a word on voting power to MPs and MLAs.

What KMC Act says
The Constitution of the corporation in the KMC Act only says that MLAs and MPs are part of it and silent on their voting rights. Chapter 3 of the Act bars nominated members of the BBMP from voting.

Quote hanger
The constitution of the corporation is supreme. No election rules can supersede this constitution laid out by Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. Till 1996, MLAs and MPs were not voting for the mayor. It started only after the 1974 amendment which included MPs and MLAs as part of the corporation. The constitution specifies that nominated members of the council (who can be experts) don't have any powers to vote in council meetings. That means all others such as councillors, MPs, MLAs have voting powers.

Link : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-27/bangalore/29478032_1_mlas-vote-voting-rights-election-rules

S.V. Rangnath, Chief secretary -Yaragol to become reality soon

The Central Government has already discussed the early completion of the Yaragol project and will inform us of its decision soon, said chief secretary to the State Government S V Ranganath. He was speaking at the progress review meeting of the Zilla Panchayat on Wednesday.

Aware of the shortage of drinking water in Kolar and Chikkaballapur, the Government is hoping to provide a permanent project to supply water to the two districts, he said. It is also planning to supply water from sources like Nethravathi and Kaveri rivers, he added.

As per S.N Jayaram Regional Commissioner, Bangalore Division “The Government is already working to undertake projects for the development of the district,” The Government has already declared renovation of up to 15,000 km of road in the State. “A considerable distance of the road is within the limits of Kolar district,” he added.

“The proposal to increase the number of beneficiaries under the Ganga Kalyana Yojana, sponsoring the Nandi and Antargange festivals, establishing a university in Kolar and construction of the office of the Deputy Commissioner as well as the Mini Vidhana Soudha have been submitted to the Government,” he said.

The district has risen to the third place in the State in the field of agriculture.

On-field improvement

“There has been an increase in the production of ragi by 60 per cent and groundnut by 37 per cent. There has also been an overall increase by 34 per cent in the production of various agricultural crops,” he said, appreciatively.

Storage facilities will be provided to help mango farmers in Srinivaspur, a famed mango-producing taluk, he added.

Ranganath said primary health centres will soon get security guards as well as tele-medicine facilities and an intensive care unit will be opened at the District Hospital.

The Government is also planning the establishment of a 660-kilowatt power sub-station in places like Srinivaspur, provision to build houses under survey numbers, proper implementation of housing scheme, establishment of an industrial zone on 646 acres of land near Vemagal, development of Kolar-Devanahalli road and development of all APMCs in the district, Ranganath added.

Ranganath also appreciated the achievement of the district in reaching the third place in production of milk.

“Kolar district has taken a leap in the SSLC results this year, from 22nd to eighth. This achievement is remarkable and worth emulation,” he complimented.

District Secretary and Small Irrigation Department Commissioner P N Srinivasachari,
Regional Commissioner S N Jayaram, Financial Advisor to the Chief Minister Dr Raju, and Kolar Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena were present at the meeting.

3 secrets for good administration

Chief secretary to the State Government S V Ranganath put forth three important techniques to ensure effective implementation of the projects of the Government.

Ranganatha said punctuality and discipline at work are extremely important.
“Office work should be carried out methodically and also reviewed regularly,” he added.

Clearing files and recognition of any problem is very important. The reason for a problem should also be recognised as this will help solve the trouble quickly,” he said.

SN Jayaram Pays for honesty - The Politics of Posting

                    THE POLITICS OF POSTING

                 JAYARAM OUT, SHIVAPPA IS NEW IGR & CS 
S.N Jayaram, Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps is shown the door, and Shivappa, the loyal official of Reddy Brothers is brought in as the new IGR&CS. Jayaram, who had not spent even 300 hundred hours in his office for the last one year had to go under disgrace. Shivappa who earlier worked as a District Registrar is posted in his place, of course, due to the political compulsions of the Reddy Brothers.
 
S.N. Jayaram is a very Ambitious man. Even after being appointed as the IGR, he continued to hold the charge of MD of Apex Bank. Later he was given charge as the Commissioner for Survey Settlement department too. But, after becoming the IGR & CS, he soon realized that he does not have power even to transfer a group D employee and the scope of making a good income also was not that attractive. He therefore preferred to work from his MD Chambers most of the time and would make a flying visit to the IGR’s office once or twice a week and leave after spending an hour or two, at the most.
 
Very recently, Jayaram had invited the ire of the Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy. It is to be recalled that Reddy Brothers are facing serious trouble in their mining business. Jayaram was expected to help them out to tide over the trouble as he happens to be the commissioner of Survey Settlement. However, he failed and was showed the door.

Shivappa, another IAS official who is nearing retirement has been brought in as IGR. Shivappa is the darling of the Reddy Brothers as he was their handpicked candidate for the Bellary DC post from the word go. It is to be remembered that when the Chief Minister B.S Yeddyurappa shunted out Shivappa from Bellary, the Reddy Brothers rose in revolt against Yedurappa and were almost succeeded in toppling him but for the last minute truce. Such is the importance Reddy Brothers gave to Shivappa. After the truce, Shivappa was brought back to Bellary as DC.

Off late, the Reddy Brothers are in serious trouble from Supreme Court cases and other assorted cases. Their empire is slowly but steadily crumbling and Shivappa was to be the protector. But somehow, Shivappa felt the heat of CBI probe and had to distance from the Reddy Brothers, for public consumption. When he was transferred two months back, it was given to understand that Reddy Brothers have got him shifted for his non co-operation in protecting them suitably from the probe. This impression is purposely created to insulate Shivappa for facing the CBI enquiry where he had to defend his actions. What more, he was not given any posting too. This was a clever ploy to send a message that Shivappa had fallen out of favour with Reddy Brothers.
 
Now the cat is out of the bag. The Reddy Brothers have brought him to the IGR post and in all possibility he will be given the Survey Department also. Nobody can have any doubt of Shivappa doing anything he can to obey the diktats of Reddy Brothers and going out of the way to help them. But that does not make him immune from the long arms of law. Shivappa had invited trouble from the High Court also in the matter of the election of Sriramalu’s sister from Bellary Loksabha constituency. He was grilled in the High Court for all the lapses.

More than anything, the CBI probe into the illegal mining activities has already turned the heat on many of Reddy Brothers loyalists, retainers and associates. Shivappa who was almost a sort of partner to them, will have to face the CBI questions, if not today, tomorrow. In fact, if he were to be in Bellary as its DC, the CBI could have already touched him by now. It is for this precise reason that Shivappa got himself eased out of Bellary and remained without a post all these days.  Nobody knows when the CBI will strike as the probe has become a prestige issue to both the CBI and the AP Government. And not to be left, Yedurappa is also breathing down the necks of Reddy Brothers. As such the Reddy Brothers needs the services of their loyal officials at strategic places and Shivappa is the best choice.

Besides, Shivappa is no new comer to the department and its fertility. He had worked as the District Registrar in Srirampura Undervaluation for a long time. His corruption at that time, to say the least, was rotten. However, he has already made heaps of money and as such he may not be bothered about it. Perhaps, what bothers him is the safe keeping of his crore's.

Shivappa therefore may not try to mint money, but who knows, old habits die hard. As he is nearing the end of service shortly, he must do well in the department.

One definitely hopes against hope that Shivappa may prove ‘good’ at least during the fag end of his tainted career. Jayaram deserved the treatment and there can be no second opinion about it. As they say ‘as you sow so you reap’ this applies to Shivappa too.  

Link  http://thebangaloremetroreporter.blogspot.in/2013/01/the-politics-of-posting-jayaram-out.html

SN Jayaram, IAS, IGR and Commissioner of Stamps Launches 'First e-stamp'

Syndicate Bank has signed Memorandum of Agreement with Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd., for e-stamp vending across the country.
Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL) is the Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA) appointed by the Government of India for the e-stamp project.

Initially e-Stamp vending will be undertaken by our Bank in the State of Karnataka at 200 identified branches in a phased manner. e-Stamp will be available at the following branches in Bangalore/Karnataka that have been operationalised.

Bangalore Branches: 1. BWSSB Branch (Avenue Road) 2. Koramangala Main ( near BDA complex) 3. Mallewswaram 18th Cross 4. Yelahanka New Town 5. Martahalli 6. Kengeri Satellite Town 7. Tilak Nagar 8.RPC Layout. Totally Forty branches of SyndicateBank are marked for e-stamp vending in Bangalore.Other e-stamp Branches in Karnataka 1. Bellary Main 2. Bijapur Basaveshwar Road 3. Belgaum Main 4. Hubli Main 5. Karwar Main 6. Mysore V.V Mohalla 7. Udupi Kunjibettu 8. Kundapur 9. Mangalore Kadri .The public can now purchase Stamp Papers from our above designated branches.

e-Stamping is all set to replace conventional stamp papers. The Karnataka Government has stopped selling stamp paper as a retail article. Hence, to cater to the requirements of stamp papers, Inspector General of Registration & Commissioner of Stamps, Government of Karnataka has introduced e-Stamp project in Karnataka.

Sri.S.N.Jayaram,IAS -IGR and Commissioner of Stamps Chief Guest for the event issued the first e-Stamp. Sri.K.Devananda Upadhyaya, General Manager, SyndicateBank Marketing Department, Corporate Office, Bangalore and Sri.G.Ramanathan General Manager SyndicateBank, Regional office, Bangalore graced the occasion.

Link : http://www.syndicatebank.in/scripts/PressReports.aspx

SN.Jayaram, IGR and Commissioner of Stamp, Beware: Your stamp paper could be fake

                                                                              

S N Jayaram, IG, Registration and Commissioner of Stamps, said,  "Agents buy stamp papers from Sub-registers offices, photocopy them, forge signature, seal and sell them at two or three times the price". 

There is no shortage of stamp papers. Why should people fabricate them? We have given out e-stamping franchise to banks and post offices.
 
Hundreds of transactions, ranging from sale deeds, rental agreements and name change to court affidavits take place in Bangalore every day but they may not be worth the value of the paper they are printed on. This is because fake stamp papers of all denominations are doing a thriving business in Bangalore.

Following the Rs 33,000 cr Telgi scam, stamp papers are legally produced in franking machines and sold only at 15 sub-registrars’ offices. Stamp papers can also be obtained from nationalised banks, post offices and a few sub-registrar offices through e-stamping. E-stamped papers are largely tamper-proof as they have distinct holograms.

The stamp papers produced by franking machines are duplicated on a scandalous scale. Agents buy stamp papers from sub-registrars’ offices, then get them colour photocopied in bulk and fix forged signatures and seals on them. These are then sold at two or three times their original price at various court complexes.
 
It’s an "Organised racket" which involves notaries, advocates and agents and is an open secret at the sub-registrar’s offices. “The government has put one Telgi behind bars. Now, we have hundreds of Telgis operating. In several departmental meetings, we have complained to higher-ups that our system has a loophole,’’ a senior sub-registrar said.

We realised how prevalent the scam is when we purchased two stamp papers — a Rs 20 denomination and a Rs 50 denomination — from the court premises at Mayo Hall. The deal was clinched by an advocate called Nagaraj. An agent standing near the parking stand with a bundled plastic cover fished out stamp papers of various denominations.

We paid Rs 60 for the Rs 20 stamp paper and Rs 90 for the Rs 50 stamp paper. In a sub-registrar office it would have cost not more than an additional Rs 10 (Rs 5 is service charge for any denomination paper) for both.

Stamp papers from franking machines are available at SR offices. We have 45 machines in the state. but yet people are 
not willing to take the stress of following even the easy procedure, I will look into the issue, assured Mr Jayaram