Different ministers,same babu

The one thing in common between former HRD minister Arjun Singh and his successor Kapil Sibal is head of the higher education bureau Sunil Kumar,who has been instrumental in the drafting of four legislations related to reform in higher education all introduced in Parliament this session. While Kumar had a long association with Singh,dating back to his Madhya Pradesh days,his efficiency also earned him a place of privilege in Sibals office. That explains why a special post was created in the HRD Ministry to accommodate Kumar as Additional Secretary he was serving as JS so far and has only recently been empanelled as Additional Secretary. While another JS may be appointed to give him a hand,the buzz in Shastri Bhawan is that Director,Higher Education,V Uma Shanker may be made PS to Sibal after current incumbent A J Kurian completes his seven-year deputation at the Centre later this year.