Lucknownama

Top cops fear trouble in the ranks
Before the Allahabad High Court,the mass dismissal of 18,700 constables was sought to be justified by the Mayawati government by leveling allegations that some IPS officers involved in the recruitment had indulged in corruption,a charge that was never proved. Instead,the inquiry was used to dismiss the constables. Nothing happened to the IPS officers who had allegedly lined their pockets. Now,when the Supreme Court has ordered that all constables should be given provisional appointment,the government has started an exercise to identify the “tainted” cops. Senior officers,however,worry the government’s rash action may have sowed the seeds of a police association in the state. The dismissed constables had formed an informal organisation called “Barkhast Sipahi Sangathan” for fighting their legal battle. They have tasted victory and dealing with them could be problematic for the government in future.

Maya’s star-gazer babus down,not out
The government has transferred several district magistrates and superintendents of police. Of course,all transfers are in public interest. But since many of them were posted in districts where the BSP lost in the Lok Sabha elections,the officers are wondering whether they have been made the scapegoats. They argue that if officers could ensure the victory of a party,then no ruling party should ever lose an election. On the other hand,if the transfers have something to do with their professionalism,then it raises some other questions. Everybody knows about this clique of babus whose members were,until the day before the counting of votes,making predictions of the BSP winning anything from 40 to 60 Lok Sabha seats. That speaks for their professionalism. But none of them have been touched.

IAS officer stuck in Rae Bareli crossfire
Remember Balwinder Kumar,the IAS officer who was suspended during the controversy over the proposed rail coach factory in Rae Bareli? More than six months have passed,but the inquiry against Balwinder has not been completed,nor has his suspension been revoked. Most officers believe that if Balwinder’s suspension was arbitrary, the government refusal to revoke it after so many months reeks of vengeance. Incidentally, Anis Ansari,Agriculture Production Commissioner,was the inquiry officer and he was supposed to submit his report within 15 days. He did not submit the report,nor did the government ask him why. Now,Ansari himself has been transferred,although he is retiring just after a month. He is the same officer who was removed as APC after his wife held a fashion show at his official residence last year but was,mysteriously,again posted as APC after some months.