Overheard In Bhopal: Still Important; Sahib Is Safe!; CS-In-Waiting; Good Days & More

Still important

A senior officer, who has always held high positions, is still getting a lot of importance in the government. Now, this about-to-retire officer does not wish to take any important position – although he is keen to remain influential in the administration. The Sahib has been given some important assignments before a mega event the government is going to organise. There are reports that ahead of the mega event, policies of various departments are to be prepared. The Sahib has been told to sift through all the policies before they are sent to the cabinet. The officers of all departments have been advised that they may discuss the policies with the Sahib. Apart from this event, the Sahib is involved in handling some other issues. Because the Sahib has worked in different departments for a long time, the government is using his experience for the upcoming event. Nevertheless, the officer is not directly getting involved in any department. He is simply giving tips to the officers about the issues brought to his notice.

Sahib is safe!

Nobody is able to understand whether the chair of a senior IPS officer is safe or he can still lose it.  The government is facing problems after the Sahib has laid his hand on a case which has troubled the officials of a department. Those who worked in the department and those who are still working there look worried these days. There are reports that the Sahib pulled out all the stops to settle the issue. And the way he tried to sweep the case under the carpet has become a matter of the natter in the corridors of power. He has kept most of the information about the case under the wraps. However hard the Sahib may have tried to remain safe; the officials of the department are keeping their eyes on whether he can save his chair or not. As the Sahib has already spilled the beans, his prestige in the eyes of the higher-ups has ebbed.

CS-in-waiting

Bade Sahib is going to retire in a few months from now. Although the chances of the Sahib getting an extension are bright, many officers have begun to make efforts for the position. Many officers will retire before the Sahib. Because several IAS officers are also going to be pensioned off, there will be a major change in their cadre list. So, a few are on the list of CS-in-waiting. Two officers, waiting to climb the ladder of the cadre-list, are eager to become the CS. They feel should there arise any problem at that time in regard to a senior officer they may get a chance to hit the jackpot. Ergo they have begun to lobby for the position. A bunch of officers are trying to please the head of the state to meet their objective. They are making all efforts to woo the ruling dispensation as well as to please the RSS.

Good days 

Time and patience are the best warriors: this phrase is cent percent applicable to a Principal Secretary (PS). When the government was changing, there was hardly anyone who could discern that this PS would again become a blue-eyed boy of the government. The situation has come to such a pass that everyone in the government is giving him importance. The PS posted in an important department, has become a blue-eyed boy of the head of the state, minister of the department, and of the Bade Sahib. Once the head of the state was angry with him, but his annoyance has turned into fondness. The Sahib is getting importance in meetings, too. About the Sahib, it is said that he gets angry, but he works hard and resolves complex issues with positivity. Nevertheless, his being in power has caused trouble to some officers who were happy when he had been in the loop line. 

In a bind

A court case has increased difficulties for an IAS officer who wanted the government to appoint him as collector of a district. He was trying for it, but because of a court order, he had been sent to a division. Although there is a lot to do there, the work is not considered important. The division, where the Sahib has been posted, is so high-profile that a single error may weigh heavy on him. This is the reason why he is worried. There are reports that the Sahib has been unhappy with the positions he is holding. He was up the creek after being posted to a department. Then the election duty concerned him, and now, this posting has compounded his worries. 

Tension of mullah

Treasure cannot trade for tranquillity. This is the reason why moneyless and moneyed men are tense. A Sahib is making a lot of money through offstage deals these days, but he is worried about managing the mullah. The person, through whom the Sahib was investing the money, is in a bind these days. So, he thinks investing money through this man may trouble him in the coming days. This is the reason why the officer is avoiding this man. The Sahib is investing money through some other people. After the recent raids on the residential premises of some people, the probe agencies are keeping an eye on some well-known jewellers in the state. In such a situation, the officer is unable to mould his black money into yellow material. Investment in land is also not easy. There are reports that because of this problem, he has confined much of his mullah to his subordinates. The Sahib has decided to lay his hands on fresh carrots only after everything is managed.