Dilli Ka Babu
Make-do appointments
The list of ad hoc appointments, babu observers say, is growing. It speaks volumes about the UPA’s efficacy in managing the bureaucracy. After the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as the CBI chief, the government named Mahboob Alam as the director-general of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force on ad hoc basis. Now, ITBP has finally got a new chief in Ajay Chadha, who was special secretary in the home ministry. Mr Alam may be relieved that he no longer holds this additional responsibility, but babu watchers say that lading babus with additional responsibilities has become the norm instead of finding a suitable candidate to head departments or organisations. Earlier, the government brought in M.F. Farooqui as temporary secretary in the environment and forests ministry, but then quickly reversed its decision and named V. Rajagopalan as the full-fledged secretary. Similarly, D.K. Mittal, who is secretary in the department of financial services, is holding additional charge of disinvestment. No one knows what will happen once he retires next month.
Vital ‘connections’
Regardless of the formal transfer policy in place, senior bureaucrats in Jammu & Kashmir remain at the mercy of their political masters. Though the policy clearly states that all bureaucrats serving on a particular post can be transferred only after a minimum of two years and maximum of three years, the rule is rarely followed by the state government. Recently, sources say, of the seven IAS officers transferred, two officers — Gazanfar Hussain and K.B. Agarwal — were moved out within seven months of their last posting. In contrast there are officers like Mushtaq Ahmed Peer who has already got two extensions as chairman of the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination.
Though the state government claims that the officers were transferred “in the interest of administration”, babus believe that political connections play a big role in transfers in the state. Clearly, for a babu in Jammu & Kashmir it pays to have “connections” with the ruling dispensation if they wish to survive.
Nothing special About it
IAS babus have always considered themselves a cut above the rest of their civil service brethren, a view that has put them at odds with the IPS, IFS and other services. Now, their view is also shared by a CBI special court judge who recently sentenced a retired IAS officer to five years in jail for amassing illegal wealth.
CBI special judge D.K. Sharma, while handing down the sentence, observed that the nation had higher expectations from IAS officials, given that they hold most of the senior positions in the government. Therefore, he added, they should also face exemplary punishment when they deviate from the path. The accused, S. Malaichamy, is a retired IAS officer of the 1971 batch. He faces jail time besides a fine of `10 lakh for possessing disproportionate assets.
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