Maharashtra government may frame one-bureaucrat-one flat rules

IN WHAT could be described as direct fallout of Adarsh Society scam, the government of Maharashtra has been mulling over framing new rules that will allow a bureaucrat to apply for only one flat under government schemes. There are suggestions that a blanket ban should be imposed on the allotment of apartments or land to bureaucrats’ relatives under any government’s concessionary scheme.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar suggested that IAS or state officials would have to follow the one-bureaucrat-one flat norm, according to media reports. Under the current rules, one bureaucrat having a flat in Mumbai can also apply for flats in Navi Mumbai, Pune etc. under the government scheme as current rules allow a bureaucrat or politician to apply for a second flat in another district. In case of Mumbai, restrictions are limited only to the city.

In the wake of Adarsh scam, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan asked the JA Patil committee to submit recommendations to make the process of allotment of government land to housing societies more transparent.

11 IAS officers fail to disclose assets

After revealing the names of 851 Central Secretariat Service officers who failed to submit the annual Immovable Property Returns (IPR) for 2009, names of IAS officers have also cropped up for the same reason. Eleven senior IAS officers, including Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner and 1986 batch IAS officer Siddaiah, have failed to submit the assets and liabilities report for 2009-10, according to Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa’s written reply in Assembly.

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Pawar-Point Presentation: Ajit Pawar and Subramanian Swamy lash out at bureaucracy

TWO major newsmakers of recent time, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, are on the same side when it comes to bureaucracy. Whereas Pawar said there is nothing wrong to be stern with bureaucrats, Swamy accused bureaucrats mainly the law ministry officials of trying to protect former telecom minister A Raja by wrongly advising Prime Minister on whether to sanction Raja or not.

Pawar came into news recently when he addressed top bureaucrats in Maharashtra even before they could brief the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, leading many local newspapers dubbing his attitude as “dadagiri”. Now, he asks what is wrong if he is stern with bureaucrats who do not heed to ministers’ directives to speed up works related to the welfare of the common man. While addressing NCP workers recently, he told that he would not change his style of functioning (dadagiri, according to bureaucrats) and ensure that the bureaucrats fall in line.

On the other side, Swamy said that it is regrettable that the law officers of the government had failed to apprise the Prime Minister of the law of the land. He also lashed out at other bureaucrats. Meanwhile, DoT legal adviser Dr Santokh Singh who was connected to the faux pas that decisions of law ministry under A Raja had the concurrence of the Prime Minister, was transferred from his position.

Ravi Inder saga continues

The saga of 1994 batch West Bengal cadre IAS officer Ravi Inder Singh continues. The director in MHA who was detained recently, did not stay in official accommodation and used a guest house in GK-II instead. And the staying expenses were borne by his business accomplice Vineet who is also in police custody.

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