Overheard In Bhopal: Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Among Bureaucrats, Scrutiny For Posting & More

Waiting for EC’s nod

The Election Commission has yet to give its consent on the file about the return of a principal secretary-rank officer to the government. The EC’s nod is necessary for his comeback. The government, which transferred him to a constitutional position for some time, now wants him back in Mantralaya. The administration sent a panel consisting of three names to the EC for this. The commission normally gives its consent in such cases, but it has happened for the first time that it held back a file. Because there is no election in the state right now, the EC avoiding a decision over the matter has surprised many in the corridors of power. A newly appointed officer of the commission has stopped the file. The plans were afoot to call the officer back to Mantralaya, and to hand him over an important department. This was the reason that he was sent to the institution for some time. The government may send some other officer to the department because of the delay in his return to the mainstream administration.

Sense and sensibility

The head of state recently explained to a female IAS officer the difference between manner and wisdom. The officer said something that had lacked refinement. The people in the corridors of power generally ignore such behaviour. But the head of the state showed the officer the mirrors for her way of talking. He told the female officer that the sense behind what she had said was good, but it lacked sensibility. The head of the state said, “What you say should, of course, be good, but the way of saying it should be equally good.” All the other officers present on the occasion were all smiles after the piece of advice Madam got from none other than the head of the state. Few are unhappy with Madam’s behaviour, but they are unable to say anything to her face. The CM’s advice to the officer has encouraged her counterparts to point out her faults. 

Scrutiny for posting

The state government is following the principle of Saabka Saath Saab Ka Vikas for the IAS officers, too. The government has prepared a list of promotee IAS officers who have never been sent to districts as collectors. Plans are afoot to post these officers as collectors to districts. The list contains the names of certain officers who, if posted to any district, will ruin the place. Against this backdrop, the government has begun a process for screening the officers who have the capability to handle a district. Nevertheless, there are certain officers who wish to stay in the state capital rather than going to districts. On the other hand, two promoteé officers are pulling out all the stops to become collectors. In any case, both want to go to districts. The higher-ups in the government know about their efforts.

Efficiency pays

The government is mulling over posting a principal secretary (PS)-rank officer to an important department. The officer, considered strict, works according to the government agenda. This was the reason that many powerful people, despite their best efforts, failed to remove him from an important department. Now, the government plans to send him to some other place. The government intends to post him to the CM’s Secretariat. Even the RSS recommended his transfer to that place. There were discussions over the issue. Talks are also underway to send him to an important department. There are reports that soon after the new government took over, an atmosphere was created against this PS. Many important people in the government were against him. He was not on good terms with those people because of some work. Shifting him from an important department was also under consideration. Now, everything is fine. Ergo, talks are underway to give him an important position.

Mister Cool!

A principal secretary (PS) is called Mister Cool. His way of discussing a problem indicates as if it had been a solution. Regarding this PS, it is said that he barely bothers about his department. As far as handling files goes, his approach is considered highly negative. It is scarcely expected that the files sent to him would return with positive comments on them. PS’s recent response to two cases shocked everyone. His response to a directive issued about his department by the higher-ups in the government was very cool. Before this, his response to another case had also been very cool. This is the reason that the government is largely running the department under him through its heads. There are talks about shifting him from there, but the government avoided transferring him due to a shortage of officers.

Upset with HoD

Many officers are trying to remove the HoD of a department. The Principal Secretary and other officials of the department are disenchanted with him. Neither does the HoD himself work, nor does he let others do anything. There are reports that a few officers have recently met the minister of the department and told him to remove the HoD. The HoD himself wants to go out of the department. He wants a plum posting. The officer is trying to get the position of a commissioner of a division. Although the Sahib was given an important position after the formation of the government, he failed to stick to it for a long time for some reasons. This is the reason that the officer is unable to work enthusiastically in the department. The Sahib as well as the other officers of the department is waiting for a list of transfers.

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