A written missive sent by UP Chief Secretary PK Mishra last week to principal secretaries and secretaries of all departments of the state Government has created a flutter in the state bureaucracy. Mishra has expressed ire over “important and sensitive decisions” being taken by various departments without informing him.“While holding important meetings and also during discussions with senior officers, several decisions have come into my knowledge which are important and sensitive, but have been taken without being brought into the notice of the Chief Secretary,” the letter states. He has categorically stated, “The practice is not proper,” and added: “If the Chief Secretary is aware of the matters, they are discussed in a holistic view and that helps in taking a balanced decision under the set procedures.”Mishra has also warned the principal secretaries and secretaries that “in future, they should ensure that all important and sensitive matters are brought into the notice of the Chief Secretary before any decision is taken on the same”.It is not only the content of the letter that has raised eyebrows, but also its timing. The letter no 244 / PSMS / 2008 is dated February 25, but it is signed by Mishra on February 22. The departments, however, received the letter in the first week of March — after Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh was relieved of his additional duties of Administrative Head of state Secretariat and the charge was handed over to Mishra.The bureaucracy is at its wit’s end guessing what instigated the letter. But there are enough recent incidents that point to Mishra’s outburst and disappointment in the state’s bureaucracy. Some of them are enlisted below:• Departmental inquiries were dropped against a senior IAS officer who was facing several inquiries, including a CBI inquiry against him. • A senior upright IAS officer was suddenly relieved of his charges and was sent out of the state on an election duty.• Two IAS officers — known for their objectivity and their role in the implementation of VAT in UP — were also transferred suddenly.The officers claimed that in recent months Chief Secretary was not taken into confidence and the orders were issued by the department heads on various issues after getting them approved from others. “The situation has changed now and the Chief Secretary is only trying to streamline the governance,” a senior IAS officer said.
