Mamata Clones PMO in Bengal

Prabhu Chawla makes a valid comment on Mamata Cloning PMO in Writers Building at Calcutta (the New Sunday Express June 5, 2011). A most powerful CMO is on the anvil. This has been probably necessitated by her suspicion on the role of West Bengal IAS officers. It seems a Railway officer is positioned and expected to manage this office. Banerjee is still relying on her instinct and style. Such a development reflects badly on the integrity and commitment of most of the officers in West Bengal cadre. The All India Service officials are expected to be impartial and above board irrespective of the consequences of their actions taken in good faith and in the larger interest of the citizens. Apparently a crisis of confidence has been noticed in the minds of the Heads of Governments over a period of time in the country; probably it started in the days of Smt. Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister. Soon after independence, the PMO and CMOs were small in size with a few officials to assist the PM and Chief Ministers. Under the constitution of India the Governments of the day are supposed to run by the Council of Ministers, appointed by the President at the Centre and by the Governors at State capitals. The Ministers are supposed to be assisted by the Senior Civil Servants working as Secretaries to the departments who are otherwise properly trained and experienced in their jobs. Only the policy decisions are supposed to be put up by the concerned departments and discussed in the Council of Ministers as and when the need arises. Once the matter is discussed and decision taken in the cabinet, it is for the Departmental Minister and the Secretary concerned to execute it. One is certainly not aware of the need for a platoon of officers sitting in PMO or CMO to vet the files before the PM's and CM's decision is communicated to the concerned Minister and Secretary of the Department. Under such a scenario, it would be highly erroneous and a costly affair to doubt the conduct of the Minister and Secretary of the concerned Department and place confidence on a second tier of inexperienced (but perhaps loyal to the core) individual in PMO and CMOs. If the PMO and CMOs are not reduced in size and shape, the Parkinson law is bound to show its effect in the days to come and make a mockery of the system.