Punishment posting!
The posting of an IAS officer in Raj Bhawan is not considered very good in bureaucracy, but it is never treated as a punishment posting. But it has happened for the first time that the officers are being sent to Raj Bhawan as the principal secretaries to the Governor in the name of punishment. In a recent case, the government, angry with a Principal Secretary (PS), posted him to Raj Bhawan. In the past one year, it has happened for the fourth time that the government transferred an officer to Raj Bhawan out of anger.
There were reports that an important person was livid about the posting and objected to it, but the government finally had its say in the matter. The government posted three officers in Raj Bhawan out of anger. Soon after the formation of the government, the higher-ups were enraged with an officer and sent him to Raj Bhawan. By the time he had been brought to the mainstream administration, the government was cross with another officer and sent him to Raj Bhawan. It happened for the third time that, annoyed with an additional chief secretary, the government posted him to Raj Bhawan. When another officer was shifted to Raj Bhawan, people in the corridors began to say that the Governor’s House has become a place of punishment posting.
Seventh transfer
A secretary-rank officer is unable to stay at one place for a long time. He has been shifted from place to another since the government formation. Every time, the government transfers him for one reason or another. When the government was being formed, he was posted to a department as an additional secretary.
Afterwards, he was shifted to an important department, but because he could not handle the big project, the government shifted him to another department that was also very important. Just as he was getting acclimatised to the new job, he was transferred from there to another important place. He has also been given the additional charge of another important department. Nevertheless, when he could not manage the additional charge for a long time, another officer was posted there. Sahib is so lucky that he again got an important assignment. He was shifted from an important department. Now, people in the corridors of power discuss how long he will stay in his present place of posting. The officer is also fed up with frequent transfers. He looks upset.
Angutha Chhap?
An IAS officer was told at a meeting, where senior officers were present, that he was ignorant about the functioning of his department. Several important issues were being discussed at the meeting. Certain topics related to the department of the officer also figured in the discussion. When a senior officer asked some questions to the officer about his department, the Sahib was fumbling for an answer. The senior officer then said, “I am Angutha Chhap (unformed) about the functioning of your department. But you, too, are Angutha Chhap (analphabetic) about your department.” After hearing the words of his senior, the Sahib was slightly scared. He, however, saved the day for himself saying he was new to the department. Nevertheless, since the day the officer has been posted to the department it is said he was wrongly sent there. The department handles several sensitive issues. On the other hand, the Sahib’s image is not such that he can deal with them. The Sahib is more interested in other things than work.
Game of chess
A plot has been hatched in a corporation that always remains in the limelight. The corporation floated a tender. Through the tender, an officer posted there wanted to benefit an individual. So, the Sahib made the terms and conditions of the tender accordingly. There were complaints at several places about it. The Sahib knew that he had intentionally committed certain irregularities. He convinced a senior officer of the department in such a way that the senior officer stood by him. The senior officer is known for his uprightness. Against this backdrop, the Sahib played a trick on the senior officer to meet his purpose, but the senior officer supported him everywhere. The corporation has been afflicted with corruption for many years. This is the reason that the Sahib does not want to leave this place. He manages to stick to the place by fair means or foul. There are reports that even the powerful officers cannot make as much money as the Sahib is making through offstage deals in the corporation.
Angry or happy?
The reason behind the anger of the head of state with an IAS officer is not known to his colleagues. The officer was posted in an important department several months after the formation of the government. But as some problems cropped up in the department, he was transferred from the mainstream administration to another place. A few days ago, the government decided to bring him back to the mainstream administration.
Though it happened, he got a posting in a department, which is less important than the one he was desirous of. Now, there are speculations about this officer. Some of his colleagues say he is bearing the brunt of the head of state. He is one of the few officers who have already worked with the head of state. The officers are, however, confused about whether the Big Boss is angry with him because of some old issues or something has happened between them afresh. Also, there are reports that the Sahib may have been transferred to the present place of posting as part of a stopgap arrangement. Perhaps the government plans to post him in another department after an officer retires from there.
In a dilemma
A commissioner posted in an important division is retiring by month-end. The name of an officer for posting in the division as commissioner was almost finalised. For the past few months, the perception among the bureaucrats was that he would be posted there. Since the day the officer was given an assignment in the town, it was said that he would be the next commissioner.
But there is confusion over the post now. The government is chewing over whether it should post the officer as commissioner to the division or wait for some time. There are reports that the posting of an officer in the division may be delayed for some time. Also, there are possibilities that the government may give the charge of the division to some officer and post a commissioner after a while. The name of a secretary-rank officer is doing the rounds for the post. There were suggestions to post him to the division as commissioner. But the officer does not intend to become commissioner of the division. So, the chances that the government will post someone as commissioner to the division are thin.
