Dilli Ka Babu: Tussle over turf in J&K

Lack of support for the proposal of cadre review for officers of the Kashmir Police Service and reservation of two IPS posts of IGP and three IPS posts of DIG for state cops has created a rift within the PDP-BJP coalition government. During a recent state Cabinet meeting the ministers belonging to BJP strongly resisted chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s proposal to convert IPS cadre posts for promotion of KPS officers. This proposal also has the support of some PDP ministers but coalition dharma prevailed, for at least this instance.

Those in the know say that the BJP does not want to disturb the existing cadre arrangement of IAS, IPS and IFS officers. These services have been complaining about cadre posts being diverted to accommodate state service officers. But the coalition’s strength will be truly tested if the chief minister persists with pushing the proposal, as seems very likely. Watch this space for updates.

UPSC showcasing babu history

Delhi probably has the highest number of museums in the country, and there are growing. On the heels of the recently inaugurated Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum comes a first-of-its-kind museum dedicated to Indian bureaucracy. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has recently opened a museum in its office building which possesses a rich treasure of archival material. It was inaugurated by UPSC chairperson Alka Sirohi.

The museum showcases the history, development and growth of administration in India, like original pamphlets, documents, reports and other records. The material, which is on display, covers the period since the founding of the UPSC in 1916, up to 2015.

Sources say that 147 articles have been displayed currently. Among the outstanding objects on display at present are pamphlets of the civil service of India, 1916 and 1918 examination, Indian Imperial Police Service Examination, 1926, Combined Competitive Examination 1938 and pamphlets of various other examinations.

It also showcases books authored by babus, mementos received from different organisations and panels with lists of the toppers of civil services and other all-India services examinations. It might prove a boon to scholars and historians, and even the general public, interested in this field of study.

Bound to silence

Time was when the Modi government encouraged bureaucrats to use social media to reach out to the public. At the time it was seen as a winning step, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi injecting some much-needed fresh thinking to rejuvenate the ossified bureaucratic functioning. It was also seen as a step towards freeing babus from the shackles of their political masters.

That noble thought has now been tossed aside, as the Modi government struggles to contain the fallout of the demonetisation announcement. The government has shown its extreme sensitivity to criticism, especially that emanates from within itself.

The railway ministry has issued a gag order on all its employees, barring them from using the social media to criticise the government or its policies and actions. Failure to comply, it says, will invite “disciplinary action”.

Sources say that the railway order is similar to the draft notification of July 18 attempt on the IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officers through a draft notification issued on July 18, to amend the All India Service Rules, which was an attempt to gag the IAS, IPS and IFoS officers.

It is the same story in some states, especially the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, where senior bureaucrats have got into trouble for their Facebook posts or Twitter comments.