Ashok Chavan rolls up sleeves to put 'babus' in their place

Irritated by the audacity of a couple of senior bureaucrats, chief minister Ashok Chavan will deliberate with senior cabinet colleagues to find ways to tackle the officers’ confrontational attitude.

Chavan is extremely upset with IAS officer Uttam Khobragade and IPS officer Satyapal Singh’s conduct.

A highly-placed source at Mantralaya revealed: “Chavan is likely to discuss the issue with his cabinet colleagues and send across a stern message that bureaucrats should not be allowed to arm twist the government to fulfill their individual agenda. If IAS officers have any problems against a minister over any policy, they can air their grievances to chief secretary JP Dange. Similarly, the IPS officers should take up their issues with the director general (DG) or department heads.” 

The ministers are worried about the officers going public against the government. “We had reconciled to bureaucrats going on leave to protest their transfer order. But now they have started taking their battle against the government to streets,” a senior minister said.
Last week, Khobragade publicly expressed his displeasure after he was transferred to the ministry of tribal development. He wanted the government to retain him as the general manager of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST), despite him completing the three-year tenure. Public demonstrations were organised to protest the order. Khobragade said, “I may also tender my resignation.” 

Pune police commissioner Satyapal Singh, on the other hand, has run a campaign against minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe. A section in Congress has alleged that the officer is emboldened by the protection from top NCP leaders, including home minister RR Patil.   

“There are instances of how babus have used political godfathers to revise their transfer orders. Some refused their postings in Gadchiroli or Amravati and managed to go to places of their choice,” said a general administration department official.