New Delhi:
The Prime Minister's Office has put on hold the appointments of private secretaries to eight ministers, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.
Sources say the PM's Office has asked for a report of appointments as private secretaries for ministers and they will only be cleared after scrutiny. The government, sources say, is in the process of finalising a policy of whether or not to retain officials, especially in the staff of ministers, who have worked in the previous UPA regime.
Rajnath Singh reportedly wanted Alok Singh, an IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, who had previously worked for former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
A minister's personal staff has direct access to important files and policy decision of the Government. Sources say if some officials are asked to leave their present assignment, it won't be a reflection on their competence. Government sources also cite a rule passed by the earlier UPA government that said a minister's personal staff should not be on deputation for over five years.
The move, however, raises one question - what signal does the Modi government want to send out? If officials who worked in the previous UPA regime are kept out, is the new government displaying a trust deficit?
Sources say the PM's Office has asked for a report of appointments as private secretaries for ministers and they will only be cleared after scrutiny. The government, sources say, is in the process of finalising a policy of whether or not to retain officials, especially in the staff of ministers, who have worked in the previous UPA regime.
Rajnath Singh reportedly wanted Alok Singh, an IPS officer from Uttar Pradesh, who had previously worked for former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
A minister's personal staff has direct access to important files and policy decision of the Government. Sources say if some officials are asked to leave their present assignment, it won't be a reflection on their competence. Government sources also cite a rule passed by the earlier UPA government that said a minister's personal staff should not be on deputation for over five years.
The move, however, raises one question - what signal does the Modi government want to send out? If officials who worked in the previous UPA regime are kept out, is the new government displaying a trust deficit?
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