Maha ministers ignore Fadnavis' diktat, appoint assistants from previous govt

Mumbai: Despite Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ directive of banning the appointment of private secretary or assistants from previous Congress-NCP government, new ministers in the state have hired personal assistants from the previous government, completely ignoring the directive.

In the first week of December, the general administration department, led by Fadnavis, issued a one-page order stating that there will be a ban on appointment of private secretary, officer on special duty and personal assistant for ministers who had worked with cabinet members of the previous Congress-NCP government in the past ten years. Fadnavis issued the directive on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move. Modi also issued a similar order stating that no staff from the previous government should be appointed for ministers.

BJP minister Prakash Mehta appointed Ajinkya Padwal, who was secretary to late former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, as a private secretary. Another BJP minister Girish Mahajan appointed Vilas Savde as a private secretary. Savde had worked with the former minister Vijaykumar Gavit in the previous government. Dilip Kamble, a BJP minister, appointed Sunil Chavan, who worked with former minister Abdul Sattar in previous government, as a private secretary.

Sena minister Diwakar Raote appointed Sudhir Tungar, who worked with former minister Laxman Dhobale, as private secretary. Raote said that Tungar worked with Dhobale ten years ago and the order did not prohibit appointing private secretaries who worked before that. BJP minister Prakash Mehta and other ministers were not available for comment.

Sources in the government said the ministers chose staff from previous governments due to unavailability of experienced staff and have termed the appointments as ‘temporary’. Sources said that if ministers did not appoint staff from previous governments, it would be difficult for them to get experienced staff who know the functioning of the Mantralaya.

The sources also said that ministers are likely to meet Fadnavis over the issue after the assembly session.

However, officials from the general administration department said that the CM’s order did not serve any purpose. “Most of the ministers at present have appointed secretaries and assistants on temporary basis till further orders. But, after a few months, it is likely that these ministers may ask the chief minister to consider these appointments as ‘special case’ seeking exemption from the government rule to appoint the staff as permanent. Otherwise, these staff will be transferred to their home department by month end,” said a government official requesting anonymity.

The official added that many ministers are of the view that the government rule should be amended to make way to appoint private secretaries and assistants of their choices. “In the decision making process of ministers, the private staff play a crucial role. So, it is obvious that they want these people of their choices,” he added.

He further said that after the assembly session, the state government may take a decision on the issue and put an end to the controversy.