Yet another netagiri Vs babudom: Should Indian politicians deserve a standing ovation from bureaucrats?

THERE is nothing unusual about politicians having a grudge against cushy bureaucratic jobs as civil servants are ever-green in corridors of power and need not go to masses for seeking fresh mandate. But the recent set of instructions for Indian babus, particularly the bizarre fiat of the Rajasthan government that bureaucrats must stand up to receive an elected representative, read politician, is going too far. The directive issued by principal secretary of the administrative reforms and co-ordination department of the Rajasthan government said if any MLA or MP drop in without an appointment, the bureaucrat must them a priority. Also, civil servants are asked to invite local representatives to all the official functions organized in the area he represents, and the seat for the politician should be reserved till the end of the function. As babu blogger mentioned in a post dated August 7, 2009, that Indian political masters recently imposed a set of additional instructions on how officers should behave with the Members of Parliament. Read, “Netagiri & babudom: A new set of instructions issued to help officers communicate with MPs”. Also, politicians from Goa recently criticized their bureaucrats as inefficient and non-cooperative. Tensions reached such a stage that the government of Goa began consultation with the Central government to create a separate cadre for the state of Goa only. Read, “Why do Goan Netas hate babus? State politicians demand separate IAS, IPS cadre only for Goa” posted on August 11, 2009. Also read, “My Take: Low Level European Civil Servants Lead In Brand-Building Of Europe’s Bureaucracy” posted on June 30, 2009. Action & Appointments a) Arvind Mehta, a 1984 batch Himachal cadre IAS officer has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of commerce, in the pay band of Rs 37400-67000 (PB-4) with a grade pay of Rs 10,000 for a period of 5 years. b) Rita Sharma, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS and secretary department of rural development will hold the additional charge of the post of secretary, department of drinking water supply for a period of three months with effect from September 1, 2009. c) Bhaskar Chatterjee, a 1975 batch Orissa cadre IAS, and presently principal adviser, Planning Commission has been appointed as secretary, department of public enterprises in the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises. d) R Bandyopadhyay, a 1974 batch IAS West Bengal cadre IAS, and presently secretary, department of public enterprises has been appointed as secretary, ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) in place of Anurag Goel, a 1972 batch UP cadre IAS. Mr Goel will now become Member, Competition Commission of India (CIC). babu blogger wrote it on August 3, 2009 that Mr Goel would be a CIC Member. Read, "Post-retirement plan for MCA secretary Anurag Goel & personnel secretary Rahul Sarin firmed up in advance"

babuz no 2: Principal secretary to PM TKA Nair is India’s second most powerful bureaucrat; find out who are no 3, 4 & 5

RETIRED from IAS 12 years ago, 1963 batch Punjab cadre officer is the most powerful bureaucrat in the PMO now, and the second most powerful in India, according to babu blogger’s list of powerful bureaucrats based on feedback of senior civil servants and politicians. Mr TKA Nair, who was secretary to former prime minister I K Gujral and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had also served in Planning Commission. From day one, Dr Manmohan Singh was very keen on taking him on board as PM had always believed in creating a core team of master bureaucrats to make an impact on overall administration and delivery of services. Read, “babuz aaj kal: India’s most powerful civil servants are being spotted; Indian PM too has Kissinger-type master bureaucrats” posted on August 13, 2009. The man who attended the first cabinet meeting of Dr Manmohan Singh government in May, 2004, has been calling the shots in the PMO for over five years now. He commands high respect from all officers in government today. And his immense clout explains why Reliance Industries’ (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani or Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal knows who to meet in the Raisina Hills to explain their side of the story on recent gas row and misery of aviation sector respectively. Yes, TKA Nair is India’s Kissinger-type master bureaucrat. Also read, “babuz no 1: Pulok Chaterji is India’s most powerful bureaucrat” posted on August 17, 2009. Watch out this space in coming days to find out who is babuz no 3, 4 & 5. Action & Appointments a) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the request of Dr A K Banerjee, IA&AS (1973 batch) for relieving from the post of chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, with the condition that he may continue for three months, by which time a substitute can be in place. b) Edwin Kulbhushan Majhi, a 1989 batch Kerala cadre IAS has been appointed as Mission Director-cum-joint secretary in the department of agriculture and cooperation, in the pay band of Rs 37400-67000 (PB-4) with a grade pay of Rs 10000. c) The proposal of the ministry of railways (railways board) for extension of Central deputation tenure of P K Mehta, IPS (1977 batch Haryana cadre), and chief security commissioner, Northern Railway, has been approved for a period of three months beyond August 8, 2009. d) R K Jain, a 1981 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS has been appointed as chief (joint secretary level), national manufacturing competitiveness council (NMCC) under the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) in the pay scale of Rs.18400-22400 (pre-revised), for a period of three years.