Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh):
On pins and needles
The gold and cash, seized during raids by various inquiry agencies in Bhopal, have raised a dust storm across the country, but the winds are looping back towards one department. This is what the raids have so far unveiled. A few officers connected to the department are strung up after such a huge haul of gold and cash. The person, from whom the pickings were confiscated, was on good terms with some officers and had several underhand transactions with a few of them. After the raids, the officers are worried, thinking lest their names should go public. Apart from the bureaucrats associated with the department, an IAS officer posted in the state capital is beside himself with tension. The Sahib had links with some of those who had gathered such a huge amount of money through offstage deals. The officer thinks because his name is associated with those who ripped off the public money, he may also be in trouble in the coming days. The black clouds of danger are also hovering over a few others connected to the case.
Happy situation
A legislator of the ruling party and a retired IAS officer are happy after a team of I-T sleuths carried out raids on the official and residential premises of some people. The retired officer had a business rivalry with those whose residential premises were raided. A group of builders whose residential and official premises were raided and the retired IAS officer were investing money in the same area. This Sahib is connected to land deals and working on some new projects in that place. So, the projects set up by the builders became an eyesore to the retired Sahib. So, the raids signal hard days for the builders in the area and advantages for the Sahib. On the other hand, a group is planning to invest money in a few plots of land in the state capital, and all these people are associated with it. Similarly, a legislator of the ruling party is happy after the raids. The law-maker is inimical to the business partner of the person whose residential premises were raided. Ergo, after the raids, the legislator has plunged into action to entangle this person.
Boss’s confidence
When the government would be happy or angry with someone remains a mystery. The present head of the state is very happy with an additional chief secretary (ACS). He has openly praised the ACS at many places. After forming the government, the head of the state wanted to get some work done, and the ACS silently did that. He now calls the ACS very efficient. The officer brings the issues related to the department directly to the notice of the head of the state. And such issues are immediately solved. The Bade Sahib also likes the ACS who has become more important for the government than he was. The head of state’s happiness with this officer is opening a possibility for the latter. Ergo, the officer, sitting on the fifth floor, may go to the fourth in the future. There are chances that the ACS may go to the fifth floor.
Transfer again?
A Principal Secretary (PS), who has been transferred several times in the past one year, may be shifted again. But this time, there are good chances of his getting an important department. The PS is working in a constitutional organisation, but the government wants to take him back to the mainstream administration because of his utility; and the file has been sent to the higher-ups for it. He will soon be shifted to a department as PS. After government formation, the officer has been shifted several times. From an important department, he was transferred to the loop line, and from there, he was shifted to an unimportant organisation. But now, plans are afoot to bring him back to the mainstream administration because of a shortage of officers. It is, however, yet to be decided in which department he will be posted. The names of two principal secretaries are doing the rounds for posting in the organisation where the Sahib is working.
Lack of consensus
The government is unable to take a decision on the name of an IAS officer for posting to an important department. When the last two lists of transfer of bureaucrats were under preparation, the names of two IAS officers were discussed for posting in this department, but because of lack of a consensus on any one name, a decision could not be taken. The Bade Sahib did not agree with the name of an officer when the first list was under preparation. Afterwards, new names were discussed, but the Bade Sahib was not satisfied with those officers. In the coming days, when an administrative reshuffle takes place, an officer will be posted in the department. The name of a ‘promotee’ officer is under consideration for the post. In fact, the Principal Secretary, holding the charge of the department, is overburdened. He, too, wants someone to be posted in the department where controversies crop up at the slightest provocation. For this reason, the officers work with caution.
Mr 20 per cent
There are many stories about a young officer posted outside the state capital. About this officer, it is said that he takes 20 percent of commission for any work he does. The department, where the Sahib is posted, does not only have a lot of work but also deals with payments. The Sahib, whose agents are everywhere in the town, hardly signs any file unless he gets his share of carrots. Reports about his activities have already reached other officers in the town. A minister has also poured out his anger against this officer, but nobody can act against him. Now, the officer says that as long as he wishes, he will remain in the department from where none can remove him. The Sahib’s morale is up after the transfer of an officer. There are talks that disputes over payola have caused a rift between him and others, but he is not ready to change his conduct.
