The last two months have witnessed a turf war between the IAS and IPS lobbies in Maharashtra over the posts of transport commissioner and excise commissioner. The IPS lobby has given a representation to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis that, like in a few other states, these posts should be manned by an officer from the IPS cadre. However, the IAS lobby is refusing to let go of them.
Sources say that the proposal was moved by Director General of Police (DGP) Satish Mathur around two months ago. Mr Mathur argued that both the transport and excise services are uniformed services and, like the police, law-enforcement falls under their purview. Hence, these departments can be better supervised by officers with experience of law enforcement. The IAS lobby however is strongly defending its turf. It claims that since the posts of transport and excise commissioner are allocated to the IAS, any changes would require permission from the department of personnel and training (DoPT). The CMO is treading carefully. It has, however, accepted the suggestion to create a post for an IPS officer in the protocol department, and also to have one senior IPS officer in the state government’s disaster management centre.
Extra responsibility:
The Centre, in its wisdom, has chosen not to name new secretaries for the ministry of parliament affairs, ministry of statistics and programme implementation and ministry for panchayati raj. Babu circles in the capital were expecting new appointments to these posts this month, but that hasn’t happened yet. Instead, three senior babus have been given additional charge of these posts.
Sources say that Mr Prabhas Kumar Jha, a 1982 batch UP cadre IAS officer and present secretary of official languages, has been given additional charge of secretary, ministry of parliamentary affairs. Similarly, Mr K.V. Eapen, of the Assam cadre and secretary in the department of administrative reforms and public grievances, will also be secretary in the ministry of statistics and programme implementation, while Mr Amarjeet Sinha, a 1983-batch Bihar cadre IAS and the current secretary in the department of rural development, has been given additional charge of the post of secretary in the ministry of Panchayati Raj.
It is difficult to say if this is some sort of a temporary arrangement until the government makes up its mind. But the decision has surprised many, including those who were hoping to occupy the slots.
