Wanted: Babus

Though right now Bihar is gripped by election fever, there is one issue that the new government, whichever it is, may not be able to sweep under the carpet once the poll din dies down. While many states in India routinely face a paucity of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) babus, in Bihar the crisis is accentuated by the fact that one-sixth

of its allotted quota of babus are away on deputation to the Centre or to other states. And given the play of politics in the state, many of these senior babus have managed to stay away from their “home” state for years on end. At present 46 IAS officers of the Bihar cadre are away on deputation and will, in all likelihood, retire outside the state.
According to sources, senior babus on deputation include S.P. Seth, currently principal adviser to the Planning Commission, A.N.P. Sinha, panchayati raj secretary, Jayant Dasgupta, officer on special duty in the commerce ministry, S.K. Sharma, DG (acquisition) in the ministry of defence, and B.K. Sinha (1975), secretary in the ministry of rural development. In addition, four chief secretary-rank officials of the 1974 batch, including chief secretary Anup Mukherjee, Board of Revenue member S.P. Keshav, departmental vigilance commissioner S. Siddhu and parliamentary affairs secretary Pancham Lal are also set to retire soon.
Usually, states faced with a similar IAS crunch assign subordinate civil service personnel with additional responsibilities. Bihar, babu watchers say, does not really have that option because it is woefully short on this front as well.

Hardy survivor
The “autonomous” public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is often in the news, usually for the wrong reasons, most of which have something to do with its current CEO, B.S. Lalli. Babu-watchers in the capital are in awe of the former IAS officer who seems to have survived allegations of corruptions, admonitions of various courts and attempts of the government to oust him. The latest instance was the report of the Chief Vigilance Commission accusing Mr Lalli of breach of parliamentary privilege, financial mismanagement and other offences.
But Mr Lalli survives, probably because of a law governing the Prasar Bharati that stipulates all board resolutions shall be forwarded to the ministry by the CEO. Even if the board were to decide to meet and recommend the CEO’s removal, they will have to ask the CEO as he alone is authorised to call the meeting, prepare the agenda thereof and minute the proceedings! And Mr Lalli is hardly likely to recommend his own removal!
But apparently, the information and broadcasting ministry has now placed the matter before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Will Mr Lalli survive this latest battle? Watch this space for updates.