Dilli Ka Babu
Babus vs maya
Hectic political activity seems to have eclipsed everything else in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. But the usual business of babudom continues amidst the election din. Chief minister Mayawati’s relations with her babus have been prickly at best, especially with those who have refused to kowtow to her wishes. In September last year, the state’s senior-most IAS officer, Promilla Shankar, who was posted as commissioner in the NCR cell, found herself suspended for invoking Behanji’s ire.
Apparently, Ms Shankar has not accepted her fate meekly. Sources say she has challenged the Uttar Pradesh government’s recent decision to extend her suspension, claiming that no officer can be suspended for more than 45 days if no disciplinary action is taken during that period. Over to Ms Mayawati!
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Biased policy
The housing scam involving netas, babus and scribes may cause some anxiety to the Orissa government, but it is just an example of the politics of patronage found elsewhere, too. But a different kind of trouble is brewing for chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Apparently, the government under Mr Patnaik is unfriendly towards people with disabilities. Under fire from activists is the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC), which allegedly has been violating the rights of the disabled by refusing them employment.
According to sources, the Orissa Disabled People’s Network is demanding the implementation of three per cent reservation for disabled persons in the state civil service exam. But the OPSC’s explanation is that there is no provision in the OPSC Act to cater to people with disability. OPSC special secretary L.N. Mishra says that the commission will now consider the issue, since it has been pointed out that even the central service — IAS — and state governments, like Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and Rajasthan, have quotas for persons with disability.
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Corruption war
Anti-corruption activists in Bengaluru were taken aback when the state Lokayukta raided three IAS officers — Siddaiah, M.V. Veerabhadraiah and Mohammad A. Sadiq all within a day. According to sources, the track record of Karnataka’s anti-corruption institution has not been particularly exemplary. Apparently, in the last 10 years, though the Lokayukta police has nabbed nearly 2,400 babus, only five IAS and six IPS officers have been raided so far. That may explain why many were surprised by the latest raids.
Interestingly, sources say that there is little transparency within the Lokayukta. While it is mandatory for all government officials to declare their assets, the Lokayukta police chief, Satyanarayana Rao, and deputy inspector general of police Arun Chakravarthy have not complied so far. That might change now.
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