Sometimes, the government’s action belies understanding. It was proved by the action of the Madhya Pradesh government, which neither let an upright IAS officer join his duty after transfer nor cancelled his transfer order. For the first time, such an incident has taken place in the state.
2012-batch IAS officer Pankaj Jain, who was working as Managing Director (MD) of MP Public Health Services Corporation, was transferred as MD of MP Building Development Corporation (BDC) and Member Secretary of MP Pollution Control Board (MP PCB).
He joined BDC, but despite the lapse of nearly two and a half months, he is yet to join the MP PCB as its member secretary. Interestingly, in a letter of his promotion, Member Secretary PCB was also written along with BDC.
It should be pointed out here that the position of Member Secretary in PCB is very crucial as permission for setting up industries, doing mining and other issues related to the environment is passed through the member secretary. At present, Achyutanand Mishra, a PCB’s departmental officer, is serving as its Member Secretary.
Sources hint that Jain was not allowed to join PCB so that Mishra continues in that position. Jain, however, refused to say anything about the reasons for not joining the PCB. Jain’s strictness and uprightness may also have played a role in it, sources confide.
