Succession blues

Dilli Ka Babu
While a little whisper of a possible extension hovers in the hallowed portals of South Block, the future of many senior officials of the ministry of external affairs hinges on who will replace foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai after (and if) he retires next month. Traditionally, the announcement of a successor is made ahead of the incumbent’s retirement. Also, the senior-most Indian Foreign Service officer is named foreign secretary, as was done in the case of Mr Mathai and his predecessor Nirupama Rao. But will the practice be followed this time?
Observers point out that the present national security adviser, Shivshankar Menon, who was foreign secretary before Ms Rao, had superseded 16 officials when he was appointed in 2006. His appointment had created a minor revolt in the diplomatic ranks. This, many feel, is the reason for the heightened sense of uncertainty. Will it be Sujata Singh, the senior-most officer, or S. Jaishankar, ambassador to China and reportedly the favoured diplomat of the Prime Minister’s Office? Or someone else who may just pip them to the post?

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Cag under audit
The United Progressive Alliance government has a history of disputed appointments. And with the appointment of Shashikant Sharma as the new Comptroller and Auditor General, the upa has run into yet another controversy. Mr Sharma was defence secretary before being named Vinod Rai’s successor and the nation’s top auditor.
When Mr Sharma’s name first surfaced in connection with the position, it was pointed out that there could be a conflict of interest when he presides over the audit of the defence ministry, where he was a key decision-maker in military purchases, some of which are now under the scanner. Of decidedly greater concern now is that Mr Sharma’s appointment has been challenged in the Supreme Court in two separate PILs. There is now concern that Mr Sharma’s appointment could go the way of P.J. Thomas, who was named Central Vigilance Commissioner despite a corruption taint.

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COAL TAINT
The Central Bureau of Investigation has a tough task dealing with its “masters” in government. Even as the CBI prepares to question a retired Indian Administrative Services officer, A.K. Basu, in connection with the scam, its probe has run into a stone wall in another case involving the coal sector. According to sources, the sleuths plan to interrogate
Mr Basu, who was chief secretary of Jharkhand during the chief ministership of Madhu Koda, which could make matters difficult for Mr Koda, who is now an independent MP from the state.
If that spells progress for the CBI in the coal scam, it has been stymied by babus of the law ministry in another case. The CBI had sought permission to chargesheet former CMD of South Eastern Coal Limited (SECL), M.P. Dikshit, in a bribery case. The law ministry, reportedly, has denied permission to the CBI to question the tainted babu. So much for the UPA’s commitment to tackle corruption!