Law Kumar Mishra
Last week, a minister in Yogi cabinet was seen touching the feet of a divisional commissioner at a public function. In Bihar, a BJP leader deputy chief minister always addressed department principal secretary as Bhaiya or Sir.
Biju Patnaik,as CM of then Orissa had suspended then Excise Commissioner in 1991. I A S Association of the state held an emergency meeting at Capital Club and passed a resolution demanding withdrawal of the suspension.They also threatened to on strike.Biju Patnaik took the threat seriously and at an emergency press conference announced he was going to appoint OAS officers as Collectors and and secretaries in the state secretariat.There is nothing in the constitution to suggest only IAS will be collectors and secretaries,he said.
Biju Babu could not be taken for a ride by the elite servants.He was releasing the industrial policy at a press conference and praising the efforts by his industries secretary(a woman IAS) in preparing the revolutionary industrial policy.A reporter of a Hindi daily pulled out a copy of old industrial policy when J B Patnaik was CM and the lady officer was director of industries.Young reporter told CM”the lady officer sitting next to you has misled you.She has copied the old policy literally with exception of photos of the old and new CMs.Biju Babu called for the copy and after going through the old policy,realised word by word,the new copy was a photocopy of old policy.The lady officer tried to explain and put motives on the young reporter,Biju Babu abandoned the press conference,left it in a huff and the woman was seen IAS standing speechless.She was shifted to an insignificant assignment the same day.
In Jammu and Kashmir,under the OPG(Own pay and grade)scheme,state services officers are made DCs.A senior IAS officer in J&K had once told then CM “I am honest.My integrity is beyond doubt” CM had replied”So far,I did not doubt your honesty,but since you are claiming,I shall conduct a probe into your integrity too”.The officer relented.
Officers succumb to undue political pressure in lust of lucrative postings only and fear of transfers.Mr Amarsinh Chaudhury as CM of Gujarat asked the then municipal commissioner of Rajkot,S Jagdeesan not to remove encroachments by workers of his party as municipal elections were approaching.Jagdeesan replied politely”I do not make distinction between the Congress or the BJP.”Chief minister even then asked him not to disturb Congress workers to which the officer replied ” Je thai se kari lo(Do whatever you like),but I shall continue with my anti-encroachment drive without discrimination.The officer was transferred the same evening as joint director of GMDC,He joined the new assignment same night and the city witnessed curfew for 13 days,nine deaths in police firing as people protested the popular officer’s transfer.
In Bihar,the state association of IAS literally blackmailed the chief minister by declaring the officers would not accept verbal orders,that they have no faith in the state government. Association members will work with black arms band -a strong trade union practice.They resorted to agitation on the streets by marching to the prohibited highly protected and secured Raj Bhawan zone.They claimed over 100 members joined the street protest.They must have obtained prior permission of DM/SDM or local police station as the area is prohibited under section 144,particularly since the legislature session is on.
IAS officers have violated the All India Services(conduct)rules 1968″s para 7 by emabrassing the government , publicly criticised the government action/policy and decision.
Mr Jeetan Ram Manjhi,who was CM of Bihar is on record to allege arrest of Sudhir Kumar,IAS of 1987 batch was a vindictive action and named an IAS officer in CMO.Sudhir Kumar before his arrest had named CMO also to had influenced recruitments. No offence to the officer concerned as I have only quoted the former CM and have no disregards for any officer.I can not tender apology on behalf of Mr Manjhi.
I have been told Mr Nitish Kumar is not in the habit of being blackmailed.Maoists too say they have no faith on the government.Best wishes to the Elites of the society.
(The author is a senior journalist based at Patna in Bihar)
