Govt clerk survives

About a month back, entire Cabinet had walked out of the meeting, for the reason that the Chief Secretary, who is secretary of the cabinet, made some remarks, which were considered impolite and intemperate. Such a unsavoury situation, at such a apex level ,could have been avoided by tactful handling by the cabinet members,who are senior to chief secretary.The continuation of this childish act of permanent boycott of any meeting ,in which chief secretary was to take part, could embarrass the state further, which has already hardly any good achievement to show. So the mature handling by the chief minister saved the day. The chief secretary apologized and the controversy got buried. However ,a minister very boisterously proclaimed that the chief secretary had apologized thrice, so he could not refuse. It is not understood as to why the chief secretary apologized thrice, and why a minister ,against all norms of propriety and grace, had to so loudly pronounce about apology having been sought for three times by the chief secretary. But still the chief secretary has been removed disgracefully and unceremoniously, two months before his retirement.

The incident reminds me of a very old story, ''Death of a govt clerk'', written by a legendary short story writer of Russia, Anton Chekhov. Succinctly stated, a clerk, goes to a theatre to witness a drama. Sitting in the second row, he had to suddenly sneeze. When he looked around, he saw that a Civilian General, was wiping his head spattered by his sneeze. He apologized to him and the General said, ''never mind. ''But his fears took the clerk to the General's office three, four times for apology. The General ultimately lost his temper with this obstinate persistence and he rebuked the clerk, who could not live thereafter..

I remember that long time back, during Partap Singh Kairon's time, many officers would take a bold and righteous stand and would stand their ground. AL Fletcher ICS, who was a legendary Financial Commissioner Revenue Punjab, would be candid in his briefings to the Chief Minister, and would never budge from the righteous path.About two decades back ,there was an administrative secretary, who would almost on daily basis ,had to differ in opinion with his minister and send the files to Chief Minister for decisions. This continued for more than three years. The officer, in routine, accepted central deputation, but had never sought transfer. That secretary got his promotion as Secretary to govt of India and also functioned as chief secretary of the state for about 3 yearsStanding one's ground always pays.

I recollect a very unpleasant incident of Feb,2018,when Chief secretary of Delhi govt, lodged an FIR that he was manhandled by some AAP MLAs at the thick of the night,at the residence ,of the Chief Minister. If such incidents  happen, then who will protect the higher and lower bureaucracy ! There were reports about a state, where the sons of the chief minister would attend all meetings. They would insult senior secretaries and would also often tell the chief secretary, ''tu chup reh,tu tto gadha hai.' 'Not very long ago ,the IAS association of a state, had selected,' the most corrupt bureaucrat of the state'', by secret ballot. Incidentally, she turned out to be the chief secretary of that state.

Punjab gets Ms. Vini Mahajan, as the first lady Chief Secretary of the state. She has come at a very crucial moment, but her long, illustrious, honest, straightforward, noble and highly courageous career, may start a glorious chapter for the state.

Surinderjit Singh Sandhu