New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have cracked the whip on the “caucus” of the personal staff of ministers who are drawn from government services.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has enforced the 2010 circular, which was not being followed, to debar those having spent 10 years or more with a minister, formally or informally, from holding any position in a minister’s office.
Even though the PMO had issued instructions last week on the basis of the 2010 circular, asking not to appoint any government servant as assistant secretary (AS) or additional personal secretary (APS) or officer on special duty (OSD), a number of ministers went ahead against the directive and put such people in charge of their offices.
“After appointing such people in their offices, a few of the ministers reached the PMO with the request to exempt them from the prohibitive 2010 circular. But the PMO turned down their request and asked them to strictly adhere to the 2010 circular,” sources said.
