Hard fact to learnIJ
An ardent anti-smoking lobbyist, ASG Indira Jaising learned some hard fact of life when she tried to rope in senior counsel Harish Salve in her crusade. In the mid of hearing of gutkha ban case in the Supreme Court, when Jaising remarked that people like Salve should be an ambassador for anti-tobacco cause, Salve gave her a hint about the might of the tobacco lobby. He said as as Solicitor General when he once admitted the harmful effect of tobacco during the hearing of a ase related to the tobacco industry, the very next day the Government gave him the marching order.
Unwanted judge
Former Supreme Court Judge Cyrus Jospeh is facing a tough hurdle in getting a post retirement job. An IB report about his inordinate delay delivering judgements, has turned out to be his nemesis. Citing this IB report, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal stonewalled his appointment for the coveted post of Chairman of TDSAT. Cyriac Joseph’s posting as Member of NHRC has also been opposed by leaders cutting across the political lines. Judges have now to be worried about IB report in future.
Race begins
The coming weeks will see hectic lobbying for several coveted posts in Government. The Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Defence Secretary and are set to retire within the next two months. The question is whether the UP or Bihar cadre will steal the show as most of the senior babus from south
Indian states want to retire as Chief Secretaries of their States.
Propose-dispose formula!
There was a lot of hullabaloo over delay in production of Aakash tablet last month. It has now emerged that by the Government itself was responsible for the delay. Grapevine has learnt that Finance Minister P Chidambaram reportedly threw a spanner at the initial stage of manufacturing of Kapil Sibal’s brainchild device. The manufacturer (Datawind) lost three crucial months in obtaining the clearance certificate for the components from Customs under IIT Bombay tax exemption certificate. Incumbent HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju is facing the music and criticism for the delay. To his relief, Datawind has conveyed it will deliver one lakh device by this month end.
lalu’s woes
After a recent meeting of the standing committee on home affairs, RJD chief lalu Prasad opened his heart before the chief of “kala wala security” (NSG). “You have given me security, but your men do not have proper house and toilet. Nitish is not making arrangements for them,” lalu complained. The NSG chief consoled lalu with the promise to look into his grievance. As he turned back, another officer quipped, “opposition bench is really taking a toll on lalu”.
What a site
While contradicting his party colleague Digvijay Singh on the two power centre controversy, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi faced the media outside the former’s chamber. It remained unclear whether it was a chance occurrence or an intentional snub, but it added salt to the injury of Digvijay whom the party has rebuffed several times in the past too.
Novel idea
Flooded with the request from many officials seeking out-of-turn postings in their home town or choice of places, the CPWD has come out with a novel idea to make them fall in line. It recently issued a circular making it clear to such reluctant officials that in case their request is approved, then they would have to forego their TA/DA for the new station. Also, officers coming back from the `hard’ area before completion of 50% tenure, could be considered again for such areas.