OVERHEARD: Female commissioner gets angry on a minister

OVERHEARD: Female commissioner gets angry on a minister

FPJ BureauUpdated: Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 07:18 AM IST
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Ticked off

The minister and the Principal Secretary (PS) of a department got a telling-off from its female commissioner at a meeting. It was not without reason that the commissioner was hot under her collar. An officer of the department had to be removed from a post after a raid on his office premises for some irregularities. And, in place of that bureaucrat, the minister wanted a female officer.

When the proposal was put up at the meeting, the commissioner got angry. She said the female officer was doing good work, but the minister emphasized on shifting her to the department. Upon this, the commissioner told the minister, that all of them sided with a corrupt officer. Her remark silenced the minister as well as the PS.  The bureaucrat, whose premises were raided, is known to have links with higher authorities.

The minister thought it better to keep mum; else many skeletons would come out of his closet. In fact, everybody in the corridors of power is afraid of this sharp-tongued, tough female commissioner. Besides, she is in limelight these days. So, nobody dares lock horns with her.

Not roomy enough!

There is no end in sight to the bickering among officers about rooms in Mantralaya. A room was ear-marked for an officer who has recently returned to the state administration. The Principal Secretary (PS), in whose place the officer has been shifted, has refused to vacate the room. The officer has been allotted another room. A senior officer, meanwhile, intervened and managed to bring around the PS to vacate the room.

Besides that, another PS bellyaches about his room. But, taking the advantage of the bickering, he got a bigger room. Another PS, meanwhile, is trying to convince people in the corridors of power, that after shifting of all the offices from Mantralaya to the new building each of them will get a bigger room than the one they have now. A PS, whose office will remain at Mantralaya, is gnashing his teeth, however.

Getting nonchalant

A secretary in a department has become indifferent these days. He hoped that the Congress would form government in the state, and a relative of his, also a bureaucrat, would be very powerful. He would then get a plum post. But his relative’s going to Delhi on deputation has thrown cold water on his wish. The relative of this officer is in good terms with a top Congress leader.

Now, it seems difficult for the Congress to form government. So, he is moving around the bosses of the ruling party to score some brownie points with them. It is said that this officer does not sign a file without taking bribe. Since the secretary has no importance in the department he cannot earn extra bucks there. So, he is making all efforts to earn money through underhand dealings from another unit he is in-charge of.

Money matter

Before being transferred, a female bureaucrat deployed a trusted officer of hers to deal in money matter on her behalf. The money had to come through supply of some items to the department. The officer was also supposed to clear some old accounts of madam. The bureaucrat, posted in place of madam, has not only begun to sift through the files but has also transferred the man of the female officer.

The payment for the work done during her tenure was also stopped. Those who got orders for supply are seen moving around the office for payment. The department will soon get more work, but the newly appointed officer has nothing to do with the under-the-table payment. Now, those who will go to the department for work may find themselves in a tight spot.

In a paddy  

A senior officer is angry with a collector for bringing children to the Chief Minister’s janshirwad yatra. For this fault, the collector may soon be transferred. The collector was trying to go to another district. But his chances for transfer to a place of his choice, after what has happened during janashirwad yatra, are bleak. The collector brought children to the yatra to please the Chief Minister, but his action brought a bad name to the government.

Since he has the backing of a minister he has been in the district for long. During the yatra, those who are close to the CM are keeping an eye on such collectors as may cause embarrassment to the government in the ensuing the election. Such officers may be shifted, in any administrative reshuffle, before the election.

Harassed to the hilt

A Principal Secretary (PS) is at the end of his tether. He has to move from the office of Lokayukta to the court for six days a month. While the minister of the department is getting all the money through underhand dealings, the officer is spending time in court. An officer, close to the minister, is in-charge of 80% of the branches that function under the department. The officer is so powerful that he dictates to both PS and Lokyukta.

The fed-up PS even told the minister not to involve in petty matters, because he has to go a long way in politics. But the minister did not listen to him. What is more, the minister has told all the officers close to him to collect funds for the upcoming election. To get rid of the minister’s diktat, these officers are asking for help from the PS. He is helpless, though. Anyway, the PS, in-charge of another department, is paying more attention to it to make some money through underhand dealings.

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