M A I N   N E W S

Row over PM Principal Secy’s appointment via ordinance
K V Prasad
Tribune News Service

Why hurry? says Cong MPs haven't taken oath in Parliament, Speaker hasn’t been appointed... what is the hurry in appointing his (PM) Principal Secretary? Ajay Maken, cong spokesperson Resolve grievances early, Modi tells PMO staff Modi on Wednesday held a meeting with PMO officials and emphasised the need for resolving people’s grievances on a fast-track basis. He asked them to leverage modern technology and develop systems for effective resolution of issues brought to his office.

New Delhi, May 28
The Centre today courted a controversy by promulgating its first ordinance to amend a law clearing the way for appointment of former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Nripendra Misra, as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. The move invited a sharp attack from the Congress.

The appointment of Misra, a retired UP-cadre IAS officer of 1967 batch, will be co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or till further orders, an official order said. The announcement was made after the government promulgated the ordinance amending the TRAI Act, which would have prevented him from taking up the assignment.

Describing the decision as "strange", Congress chief spokesperson Ajay Maken said the Prime Minister had bypassed his Cabinet by moving the ordinance to appoint Misra. “MPs haven't taken oath in Parliament, Speaker hasn’t been appointed... what is the hurry in appointing his (PM) Principal Secretary?" he said.

Having served the government in various capacities and in key ministries, Misra retired as TRAI chairman between 2006-2009. Under the Act, the panel head and its members are prohibited from taking any job either in the Central or state government after the end of the tenure.

The 1997 Act on the Law Ministry website reads: “The Chairperson or any other member ceasing to hold office as such, shall — (a) be ineligible for further employment under the Central Government or any state government or (b) not accept any commercial employment, for a period of two years from the date he ceases to hold such office." However, a gazette notifying the ordinance issued today amended the existing provision and Section 5 (8) now reads, "The Chairperson and the whole-time members shall not, for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office as such, except with the previous approval of the Central Government, accept — (a) any employment either under the Central government or under any state government; or (b) any appointment in any company in the business of telecommunication service."

Interestingly, while briefing media after the first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was categorical that barring two items – SIT on black money and railway accident – nothing else was on the agenda. This was in response to specific questions on reports from Andhra about an ordinance on merging some parts of the Telengana region with the residual state.

The President gives his assent to promulgate the ordinance when Parliament is not in session considering the urgency and on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. The second meeting of the Cabinet this evening has been rescheduled to tomorrow.