Overheard In Bhopal: Senior Officers Caught In Triangle Environmental Issues, Influence Of Non-IAS Officer & More

Face to face

An issue is gaining momentum in the state. Many people have become active about the issue related to the environment. A letter from a retired officer, holding an important position in an organisation, has forced many important people in the government to spend sleepless nights. At a meeting called by Bade Sahib to solve the issue, a retired IAS officer weighed heavy on a principal secretary (PS). The retired officer told the PS in front of the Bade Sahib that if the PS could justify under which rules the orders had been passed, he would resign from the position. The Sahib also said the PS had no authority to issue such orders. There are reports that because of the Sahib’s stance over the matter, the meeting, which went on for an hour, ended in a deadlock. The Sahib was told to find a way to solve the problem. He placed three conditions at the meeting, saying only if they are adhered to will the issue be resolved.  A female IAS officer is all set to be shifted from her present position over the matter.

Caught in a triangle

A senior officer in the state is caught in a triangle.  At present, he is posted in a less important department. He can be sent to another place only after the consent of three important persons. The three persons whose consent is required for his transfer are the head of state, Bade Sahib, and an important person. The issue for which the government shifted the Sahib to an unimportant department had not been a big one. The government’s anger against him also reduced. But few had the guts to ask the important person about the return of this officer to the mainstream administration.  It is, however, not possible to post anyone to the department where the Sahib is working without the consent of the key person. On a previous occasion a wrangling took place between the important person and the government over the posting of some officers to the position. The government then transferred an officer there, but his way of working enraged the key person. Finally, the government had to remove that officer. Ergo, it is not easy to transfer the senior officer from his present place of posting.

Much sought after

Two officers, who participated in a wedding ceremony in the family of a senior officer, were much sought after at the function. About these two officers, it is said one of them may become the head of state administration in the coming days. This was the reason both got special attention at the function. One of them was given a less important place during the administrative reshuffle in the central government. He has also set his eye on the chair of the head of state bureaucracy. The officer thinks the Bade Sahib will get an extension. He wants to join the position afterwards. It is, however, certain that the Sahib will get the position only if Delhi finalises his name. As the officer is a man of few words, the people in the corridors keep away from him, but he was seen meeting friends and colleagues at the function. The junior officers especially met him. Similarly, another officer posted in the central government got attention from the officials of the state bureaucracy.

Sahib’s water

There are talks about the influence of a non-IAS officer in his department. Everyone knows the Sahib rarely does any work without taking carrots. The department meets his family and personal expenses.  The sahib has developed a new habit: he is consuming water that costs Rs 150 a litre. It is heard that the Sahib saw costly water bottles at an event held in the state capital, and afterwards, he started consuming costly water. But the department is paying the cost of water. Because a bill for a bottle of such costly water cannot be prepared, the rates of water are adjusted to other expenses. The officer ripped off the department where he was previously posted. The probe agencies are pursuing cases against him. But the officer got an important department soon after the government formation. Although the principal secretary of the department has a strong dislike for Sahib, he cannot act against him.

Mian Biwi Razi

Mian Biwi Razi to Kya Karega Qazi?  The maxim has totally proved correct in a state government project. The government has recently approved the project. There is no doubt that the project is good, but an IAS couple is considered to be behind preparing the plan and its quick approval. The couple gave their consent for the project, and it got approval from all departments concerned. Madam prepared the blueprint for the project. The department where the Sahib is working raises objections to any project. But it did not happen to this project. The Sahib’s department approved the project soon after its preparation. The Sahib then got consent from the higher-ups in the government for the project prepared by Madam. The project will get funds in the upcoming assembly session through a supplementary budget. Several departments are discussing the quickness with which the work was done.

All for big district

An officer, once enmeshed in a controversy after being appointed as collector, got back his collectorship after the formation of the present government. Now, as collector, the Sahib wants a bigger district than his present place of posting. The Sahib, as it is heard, has set his eye on five important districts in the state. He has begun to make efforts for posting in one of these districts. A close relative of the Sahib is an important leader of the BJP. The officer’s relative is close to a senior politician of the ruling party in Delhi. He is trying to go to his chosen place through this politician. The Sahib got collectorship on the recommendations of this leader. He longs for a big district again on the recommendations of this leader. But his image is not that of an upright officer. For offstage deals, he was removed from the district, where he had been posted for the first time. Now, he is working in the district with caution. Now, the Sahib is pulling out all the stops for the third district that is bigger than his present place of posting.