Sibal’s babus

Human Resources Development (HRD) minister Kapil Sibal’s zeal for reform is not limited to changing the examination system and educational institutions, where his efforts have elicited a mixed response. He is equally keen on reforming babus in his own ministry — where his attempts have hit a wall too.

Mr Sibal has now got the vigilance department of the HRD ministry to write to senior officials complaining about the low priority given to investigating corruption cases. Apparently, Mr Sibal’s babus have been dragging their feet on inquiries against fellow babus accused of corruption. Sources cite the instance of an inquiry against a former commissioner of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ranglal Jamuda. Though the babu retired, there is no clarity on the outcome of the inquiry. So, even as Mr Sibal takes on the IIT czars and strives to push his reformist agenda, his babus continue to hold out.

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Trouble at Nafed
The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) is on a collision course with the Union agriculture ministry over the recent sacking of managing director C.V. Ananda Bose by the Nafed board. Mr Bose, a 1974 batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, was fired for alleged misuse of funds and misconduct and replaced by additional director P.K. Sharma.
The board’s decision has not found favour with the agriculture ministry, which has promptly directed that Mr Bose be reinstated immediately. It has also removed Mr Sharma who took over from Mr Bose as “interim MD”. Sources say that though a cooperative, Nafed flouted rules by sacking Mr Bose, a government nominee, without the government’s permission. This is the stick the agriculture ministry is now planning to use against Nafed — withdrawing Rs 1,200 crore in aid allocated to the cooperative, for defying the agriculture babus.

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NHAI blues
Road Transport and highways minister Kamal Nath grabbed headlines by airing grievances against those he believes are hampering his ministry’s ambitious plans. But it turns out that the minister may well have to ask his babus why they have not acted on the Central Bureau of Investigation’s request for proceeding against a senior official of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). S.I. Patel, an additional secretary ranked NHAI official, is in the dock in a case of alleged irregularities in awarding highway projects. The CBI had sought administrative approval from the Cabinet Secretariat and the road ministry before proceeding against Mr Patel and a few other NHAI babus. But the NHAI refused to comply, blaming the CBI for not following “proper procedure”. Clearly, Mr Nath has some domestic issues that he may have to address sooner than later.