It is well known that IAS officers face piquant situations when dealing with politicians. Maharashtra’s politicos are no different from their counterparts elsewhere in the country. But an MLA from a constituency in Marathwada who recently bolted to the NCP from the BJP took the cake when he resorted to a bizarre method to make a Secretary clear a file.
On his way to Mantralaya, the MLA stopped at the Lalbaug market and shopped for puja items. He then drove to the Secretary’s office with his followers and personal secretaries and began performing a Ganesh puja outside. The puja was rushed through, after which the chanting of the aarti began.
As the intonations of the aarti — sukhkarta dukhharta — echoed throughout the Secretariat building, the Secretary sensed trouble in the offing. He quickly called in the MLA and the file was cleared immediately.
Mystery shrouds CBI transfer
Transfers may be routine affairs within the Central and State governments but when an officer is transferred with intention and motivation behind the move, doubts naturally arise in the minds of his colleagues. Recently, Vineet Aggarwal of the 1994 batch of the IPS’ Maharashtra cadre, was transferred from the CBI to the post of Additional Commissioner – Central Region, Mumbai Police.
Now Aggarwal had been making significant leads in the Rs 60,000-crore spectrum scam of the Telecom Ministry and was transferred mid-investigation. Insiders say the competent and disciplined officer knows more than is acceptable to some people. Though his deputation to the CBI ended in April 2010, the norm is that an officer investigating a sensitive matter is given an extension. However, in Aggarwal’s case it was the reverse and the silence of the CBI’s top officials only compounds the matter.
Best brains idling away
The Indian Economic Service was constituted in 1961 with the objective of having an organized Group A service of officers trained in economic analysis, policy formulation and implementation. The IES, which has more than 500 officers, is managed by its Cadre Controlling Authority in the Department of Economic Affairs. The Cadre Controlling Authority is advised by the high-level Indian Economic Service Board, headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
After liberalization, it was felt that economic service officers should be posted in every Ministry to assist the Minister and Secretary on the economic issues. These officers enjoy the status of Joint Secretary and are entitled to an office, bungalow and car.
However, the point is that every Ministry does not have a regular job for an economist. In most, the IAS-cadre Joint Secretaries perform the task. So most of the IES officers attend office every day but do virtually no work. In some Ministries, a charitable Secretary might allot some work but, as a Joint Secretary in Shastri Bhawan remarked, it’s a colossal “waste of the intelligent human resources of the Government of India”.
Overseas, but Indians all
The Overseas Citizenship of India Scheme has become very popular as it provides a lifelong visa for travel to India and several other benefits. More than 4,00,000 people have acquired OCI cards. Under the Passport Act of 1967, it is mandatory to get an Indian passport cancelled by an Indian Embassy at a fee of $175. In the case of US nationals, if their old Indian passport was not cancelled within three years of acquiring US citizenship, a fine of $250 is levied in addition to the $175 renunciation fee.
However, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs did not realize that the OCI/PIO scheme would lead to a furore among the Indian diaspora. Those of other nationalities would have paid up meekly but Indians are known for opposing rules. And so thousands of emails were sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and to A Didar Singh, Secretary, Overseas Indians Affairs, by Indians in the US, UK and elsewhere. Even Minister Vyalar Ravi faced angry questions about this whenever he went abroad. Finally, the PMO waived the fees.
