A tribute to Gopi Arora: babuz of Rajiv Gandhi era

CALL him babuz of Rajiv Gandhi's PMO, wielding enormous clout and influence in Raisina Hill of late 1980s. Gopi Arora, 76, whose tenure as special secretary in PMO was quite eventful and at times even controversial, died on Thursday. The cremation is taking place on Saturday. Apart from being the special secretary in the PMO, he was also the secretary of information and broadcasting (I&B) at a time when Doordarshan and All India Radio were the only powerful electronic media in India. Babuz is a newly coined word describing smart, powerful and influential bureaucrats who make a difference in policy formulation. He played an important role in handling the Punjab crisis and was the man behind crafting the Rajiv-Longowal accord (1985) in Punjab and Assam Accord (1985). Mr Arora, who was spotted by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as an efficient bureaucrat, had a pro-Moscow and pro-Left leanings like most other civil servants of that era. Many a time, Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister of India in 1980s relied on Arora more than his politician colleagues for which many influential political leaders of the time tried to maintain good rapport with Arora. Arora's thoughts and strategic moves found place in many of Rajiv Gandhi's speeches, and it is said in the power corridor that he was the man behind the populist, left-leaning Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution following the Bofors’ revelations. No wonder, he was later dragged in by the CBI on the Bofors case. The man who had the high point as the special secretary in the PMO later moved to IMF as India's representative. Read: babuz no 1: Pulok Chaterji is India’s most powerful bureaucrat (August 17, 2009) babuz no 2: TKA Nair is India’s second most powerful bureaucrat (August 18, 2009)

Action & Appointments a) P J Mathew, a 1983 batch IA& AS has been appointed as joint secretary (finance) in the department of space for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders. b) Ms K Sujatha Rao, a 1974 batch AP cadre IAS and secretary in the department of health and family welfare in the ministry of health and family welfare will hold additional charge of the post of secretary, department of health research, ministry of health and family welfare, during the period of leave of Dr V M Katoch from 31st October, 2009 to 12th November, 2009. c) Central deputation tenure of Vinod Kumar Thakral, a 1982 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS and joint secretary in the ministry of mines has been extended for a period of three months beyond November 3, 2009.

Power corridors witness an action-packed month-end as many race for key secretary posts

IT WILL be an action–packed month-end in Indian power corridors as 15 senior bureaucrats at the level of secretary, being posted at the Centre and states, will retire on September 30, allowing many others compete for key positions. Among those who are retiring this months include health secretary and 1972 batch UP cadre IAS Naresh Dayal, telecom secretary and 1973 batch UP cadre IAS Siddhartha Behura, secretary of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) and 1974 batch Manipur-Tripura cadre IAS Jarnail Singh to name a few. Amongst the high-profile ones retiring at the state level are chief secretary of Punjab and 1974 batch Punjab cadre IAS Ramesh Inder Singh and chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh and 1973 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS P Ramakanth Reddy. According to media reports, Ajit Kumar Seth, secretary, planning & coordination in the Cabinet Secretariat, Atul Chaturvedi of department of fertilisers, Anil Kumar of department of women and child development, and parliamentary affairs secretary P J Thomas are vying for telecom secretary’s post. Both the health and telecom secretary’s posts are quite significant in the backdrop of intervention related to swine flue and imminent auction of 3G spectrum for third generation mobile telephony. Telecom secretary Behura is tipped to be the chairman of C-DoT Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre which is a joint venture initiative between India’s telecom department and French company Alcatel-Lucent.

Justice Sinha is top contender to become TDSAT chairman Justice S B Sinha, former judge of the Supreme Court is tipped to become the next chairman of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) is taking a call on his name. Incumbent Justice Arun Kumar has already retired. Justice Sinha could be given a two-year term. According to reports, steel secretary P K Rastogi’s name has also been referred before ACC for the post of administrative member.