Bureaucrats are known to leak official papers to their advantage, but acting Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty went public with his ire against the State Government, asking the Chief Minister to take an immediate decision to appoint a full-time Chief Secretary.
He held a Press conference and even showed the letter he had written to Chief Minister Hemant Soren to air his grievances. In the letter, he has given reference to seniority of IAS officers posted in the State and urged to a take a decision keeping in view the exigencies of the time.“Gist of the letter is that a permanent CS should be appointed given the prevailing conditions of the State and also in the wake of the upcoming elections,” said Chakraverty, who has often indulged in dramatics ever since was given the charge of Chief Secretary in May.
His colleagues and seniors were quick to rebuke him. “A K Chugh was officiating Chief Secretary for nine months during Madhu Koda regime and yet he never created any hullabaloo,” pointed out a bureaucrat.“What if the other day a deputy commissioner goes in press against a ministerIJ How could we punish himIJ,” asked another IAS officer. “There is no difference between an officiating and a regular CS as the former enjoys all the powers vested in the post of CS. law recognizes a CS only. But a bureaucrat must discuss issues with government before discussing it in public,” said retired IAS officer Mukhtiyar Singh.
Chakraverty sought to play down reports of ‘displeasure’ with the State government and the question of relinquishing the charge of CS but did not mince words about problems faced as the acting head of the State bureaucracy and ineffectiveness to get his decisions endorsed by the government.“I am the senior most officer in the State. However, I have clarified that being senior most is not the criteria for becoming CS. One should be on the scale… I have mentioned list (seniority list in the letter),” added Chakraverty.
The CS although attempted to dispel the murmurs of friction with the centres of power within the government he could not hide the pain of working on a position that otherwise is vested with enormous power. Chakraverty who was given the charge of CS in May has reservations about his status which he believes needs revision.
“Recommendations made for suspension are blocked, DCs don’t listen. It’s not worth working as CS in-charge,” he maintained.In a candid admission the officiating CS exposed politics within the State bureaucracy and power wielded by few junior bureaucrats over a CS rank official under the tutelage of politicians and industrial houses. Chakraverty admitted that the State bureaucracy is neck deep in corruption.
Notwithstanding the blatant revelations and sordid state of affairs in Jharkhand Chakraverty neither blamed Soren and ironically nor the coalition government over the muddle in the state bureaucracy. In a damage control after newspapers splashed with simmering discontent, the acting CS sung paeans for the CM and absolved him of the accountability regarding appointment to an important post of CS.“He is compelled to face difficult compulsions but I must say none of the compulsions came from coalition,” asserted Chakraverty.