Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): From now on, ministers will refrain from engaging in negative discussions in the presence of officials during Cabinet meetings. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and his ministers have collectively decided that any negative matters concerning the government will be discussed only after the officials leave the meeting. Additionally, after the Cabinet meeting, ministers may meet the Chief Minister in his chamber to discuss other subjects.
As long as officials are present, the Cabinet will discuss only the agenda. The decision comes in the wake of Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma raising the issue of his department’s transfers not being approved in front of officials. Criticising Principal Secretary Vivek Porwal, he had said the incumbent made transfers without his knowledge.
At that time, the Chief Minister had asked Verma to discuss the matter separately. Following this, the CM issued clear instructions that such issues should not be raised in front of officials during Cabinet meetings.
Another recent case involved Public Health Engineering Minister Sampatiya Uikey, in which a probe was initiated by the engineer-in-chief based on a letter from former MLA Kishore Samrite. On this matter, too, discussions were held once the officials were asked to leave.
Even during thethen-chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s tenure, informal discussions used to take place after Cabinet meetings.