All the ministers men

HRD minister Arjun Singh continues to go all out to accommodate his close aides in the education sector. Besides trying to get his personal secretary,R K Goel,on the board of a major government school set-up,he continues to back IPS Pragya Richa Srivastava for the CBSE top job despite DoPT reservations. Another of the ministers favourites,NUEPA V-C Dr Ved Prakash,was given additional charge as UGC Vice-Chairman last month. The HRD Ministry has instituted a search-cum-selection committee headed by a former NCERT professor to regularise Prakashs appointment. The move has drawn the ire of the academic community,with some members even shooting off letters to the Election Commission alleging violation of the model code.