Casteist?
A woman officer occupying a key position, it is being said, is indulging in wanton favouritism. The lady, some say, either favours officers of her own caste or those close to her. The SAS officers are especially critical of her attitude. They allege that caste has become the primary criterion for deciding the suitability of officers for occupying positions of consequence. There was a time when the madam was a favourite of the Babus but her present posting has made her very unpopular. It is also said that she is harassing officers in the name of rules and regulations. Her detractors – and they are a legion – claim that she protects officers close to her through deft paperwork. A group of officers – which believes that it is suffering at her hands – is getting united under an IAS man and she may find herself under attack anytime.
Anxious
A powerful minister is quite worried in the wake of an employee getting entangled in a mega scam. The minister did all he could to save the employee but an honest officer did not allow him to have his way. The officer not only took action at the departmental level against him but also initiated criminal proceedings. The minister is now going around explaining that he has nothing to with the matter. The fact of the matter is that the employee in question has been supplying luxury goods to the minister for long and he had also paid a big amount of money to the mantriji for saving his neck. Now, he is threatening the minister that if gets into trouble, he would expose the netaji. The man is in possession of some video clipping which may do great harm to the minister’s reputation. He was enjoying the patronage of the minister for long and was committing irregularities with impunity. The grapevine has it that the minister may land in trouble if the man executes his threat.
Changed
A principal secretary, who had created ripples in a department when he was posted their earlier, is a changed man after his return to the same department. It seems he is just biding his time. The PS is now playing second fiddle to another officer of his rank and often visits his chamber. It is believed that the other officer had played a key role in bringing him back to the department and hence he is trying his best to keep him in good humour. The PS is busy pleasing everyone and as a result the official work is suffering. Those who had worked under him earlier are surprised by this transformation. We are told that the officer is desirous of moving to the Centre and is lobbying for it. The department’s functioning has a bearing on the elections and hence the PS is treading cautiously.
Angry
A PS, who has returned to the administrative mainstream after making herculean efforts, is paying the price for his loose tongue. In an inebriated state, he virtually abused a senior officer and also mouthed some unpalatable things about a couple of gentlemen who wield considerable influence in the government. The remarks were conveyed verbatim to the senior man. Naturally, he was furious and got the PS posted at a place where he has little to do. The PS was in the loop-line for quite some time. When he returned to the Mantralaya, he was hoping for a lucrative assignment. And when he did not get it, he started venting his spleen on the senior man. What is interesting that the PS does not even know what wrong has he done.
Consolation
A PS, who has been shunted out of a key posting to an inconsequential one, has been consoled that he would soon be given an important assignment. A big boss summoned him to his chamber and told him that he would be given some additional work soon. The PS had never imagined that he would fall on such bad days. The department where he has been posted is also a major one but the PS has little to do there. The officer, who was posted in the department earlier too, is keen to grab another department as soon as possible. He is considered a competent bureaucrat and after his transfer, he is contemplating moving to Delhi. He has been posted for long in the national capital and has cordial relations with many a top man in the bureaucracy there. If his wish is not fulfilled soon, he may move to Delhi.
Active
A secretary-level officer is lobbying hard for getting an additional charge. Presently, another IAS officer posted in the department is holding the charge. He is trying to persuade the PS of the department to handover the charge to him. The secretary even managed to convince the minister to write a note-sheet to the PS to the effect. But the PS is yet to issue formal orders on the same. Now, the secretary is trying to make another minister recommend his case to the PS. The problem is that he is unable to make money in the position he presently occupies. If he gets the additional charge, he can hope to grow a bit richer. And that is why; he is moving heaven and earth to grab the assignment. It is said of him that he cannot do without having some income on the side.
