HYDERABAD: For more than a week now, the usual hustle-bustle is missing at the Secretariat, the seat of state administration, and so are the number of visitors to various government departments.
If the unrelenting heat has led to a drop in visitors to Secretariat, the babus too do not seem to be in the ‘mood’ to work. The reason: They are eagerly waiting for transfers and posting, which is to happen anytime now and most of them are busy pulling the strings to get posting of their choice!
Sources at the Secretariat disclosed to Express that a major reshuffle of IAS and IPS officers has been on the anvil ever since the budget session of the State Legislative Assembly concluded about 20 days ago.
“Not a single day passes without speculation that the orders may be issued anytime but it does not happen. In the meantime, some babus are leaving no stone unturned to pull strings and land a plum post,” a senior IAS official remarked, indicating that the babudom in Telangana is desperately waiting for the posting, which has virtually parlysed the government machinary as most of them are in a dilemma whether they will be retained in the same post or shifted to other department.
“The work in departments, where the officers either trying for another post or those who doubt that they will be shunted out, has been slowed down,” sources said.
In fact, an employee of the Secretariat commented that a senior IAS officer, who used to hang out in his office even after the working hours, was now keen to leave the office at 5 pm sharp. “Sir is in doubt whether he will be retained in the key department or not. This is because of the talk that a senior officer, who is currently in a non-focal post, is trying to get posted in this key department,” he added.
However, sources said the posting of babus will be decided only after finalising the posting of two senior officers SS Rawat and Pradeep Chandra.
Special chief secretary Pradeep Chandra, who went on leave on health grounds reported for duty on March 24. However, he has not been given any posting till date. Before going on leave Pradeep Chandra was principal secretary at Finance department.
Another senior officer, Rawat, who along with other babus got Central Administratibe Tribunal (CAT) ruling in his favour, will be relieved from AP and is expected to join TS very soon, sources said.
“Once, the posting of Pradeep Chandra and Rawat are finalised, the postings of other officers are likely to be decided,” an official said.
Sources added that another IAS officer is trying to go to Mahbubnagar as district Collector while one babu is aspiring for a post in the Municipal Administration department.
However, sources said that chief secretary Rajiv Sharma is currently in Zimbabwe and the reshuffling will take place only after his return.
There is a sharp decline in the number of visitors to the Secretariat and officials attribute it to the unrelenting heat. “On an average, the Secretariat used to recieve 1,000 visitors per day but now, there are hardly 100 visitors and there could be no other reason than the sweltering heat,” an official pointed out.