Wait and watch for Babus
Sensing that there would be a new Government at the Centre late next month, several bureaucrats — from the just empanelled Additional Secretaries to Central Secretariat Services (CSS) officials posted at powerful corridors in lutyens’ Zone — have either gone on leave or decided to wait and watch to decide their choice of departments/Ministries currently being offered by DoPT. “Dekhtey Hain Unth Kis Karwat Baithi Hai,” quipped a newly empanelled Additional Secretary.
left without time
Supreme Court judge Gyan Sudha Misra kept all judges and lawyers waiting as she arrived late for her farewell function and again made them wait as she overshot the speech much beyond the time allotted to her. Outgoing CJI P Sathasivam could not contain his discontentment as he had to cut short his speech to maintain the schedule. The CJI’s speech was finally mailed to all journalists.
Noble gesture
In support of the ongoing World Immunisation Week, Kings XI Punjab wore blue wrist-bands during their Pepsi Indian Premier league (IPl) 2014 match with Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday at Abu Dhabi. A first-time endeavour by any cricket team, the George Bailey-led team’s wrist-bands marked ‘shot4life’ was a way to build awareness about the importance of immunisation.
Cattle movement
Even as the Government is grappling with a tough task of reducing the problem of overcrowding in public transport, particularly buses, NGOs led by Menaka Gandhi have put the Transport Ministry in a spot by coercing them to devise guidelines on transporting livestock. The issue was discussed at Central Motor Vehicles Rules-Technical Standing Committee (CMVR-TSC) and a decision to form guidelines on transporting cattle and poultry was taken.
Antony’s silence
With BJP approaching the Election Commission over the Government’s proposed move to appoint the new Army chief, Defence Minister AK Antony is maintaining a low profile. Normally, forthcoming on such issues, he has avoided defence journalists since resuming office ten days back after campaigning in his home State Kerala. Though Antony is attending office everyday, he has refrained from taking any major decisions and asked his officials to refrain from issuing any statements alluding to him.
Transgender big cat!
Transgenders may not be confined to human species , but they exist in the animal world, too. Recently forest personnel in Wayanad Tiger Reserve in Kerala, found a dead tiger with marks of multiple injuries. Rarely does a tiger carcass excite wildlife scientists and enthusiasts. But this one did. While conducting autopsy, the forensic experts were confused over the gender of the tiger. The official sources confirmed that it was a rarest of rare situation when there were signs of both sexes on the carcass. There was a rudimentary uterus without ovaries as well as testicles, suggesting that it could be a transgender big cat!
Optimistic Shinde
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde put a brave face when he had a luncheon meet with journalists on Friday. Avoiding questions about the possible worst performance of his party’s in the ongoing elections, Shinde declared that UPA-III is set to return to power. Refusing to entertain questions related to his Ministry, Shinde reminded the journos that nothing should be said during eating. Shinde has promised he would hold a lunch for Home Ministry beat covering journalists, and he thought it prudent to meet his promises before the elections results are out!