Dilli Ka Babu: Beacon blues

Dilli has waged a long and futile struggle against the prevailing beacon culture. But apparently the “problem’ is nationwide, not just confined to the capital. In Mumbai, too, much was made recently of reports of many ministers in the Fadnavis government using red beacons on their private vehicles. If mantris can flout rules with impunity, babus are surely not far behind. In Maharashtra, only top officials above the secretary level in the state government, police officials of ranking above the inspector-general of police and other police officials of the same rank and regional commissioners are allowed to use amber beacons without flashers, while top-level district officials are entitled to use blue beacons.

But this too is being flouted blatantly by officers who are not entitled. According to sources, since 2014 two special drives were launched to stop illegal use of beacons by government officials, but no action has resulted from the exercise. In fact, the transport authorities that are meant to stop this misuse, reportedly issued stickers to four junior officials in the chief minister’s office authorising use of beacons by them. And so it goes, even after two years of the new rules coming into force.

Don’t criticise government

Politicians may be thick-skinned, as some insist, but governments are increasingly becoming less tolerant of contrarian views expressed in public especially by those who work in it. Over the past few months several babus have fallen afoul of the Union and state governments for posting political comments on social media platforms. The government has proposed to amend the All-India Service (Conduct) Rules which will bar babus from criticising the government or its policies. Essentially, babus will no longer be able to express an opinion on anything that may potentially embarrass the government on television or social media. At present, government officials can make a public statement, including on social media, only after obtaining official clearance.

Any criticism of the government or its policies on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook or on social networking groups like WhatsApp or through the officer drawing out a caricature will now attract disciplinary action under the Conduct Rules. The amended rules of course will not apply to those babus who are on Facebook and Twitter to officially communicate government’s views as a bona fide duty. But they’ll have to watch their words and speech.

Making enemies

Navi Mumbai Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s drive against illegal construction may have won him many fans among the public but the 2005-batch IAS officer seems to have rubbed several Maharashtra legislators the wrong way. The babu who was appointed civic chief of Navi Mumbai just a few months ago has upset “people’s representatives” with his alleged “high-handed behaviour”. Perhaps the babu’s “fault” is that he made one legislator wait “for hours” outside his cabin. Recently he has also been accused of taking decisions without consulting the views of the public representatives.

The MLAs have raised the issue in the state Assembly, demanding action against the officer. But for all the growing criticism, Mr Mundhe is known as a “no-nonsense” officer who had earlier taken on the notorious sand mafia in the states. Fortunately, sources say, the babu has the back of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who recently honoured Mr Mundhe for his “outstanding work”.