Controversy is chasing Retired Justice Katju.His sermons to the Fourth estate do not seem to end. Deprecating the prevailing self-regulatory mechanism , he wants the electronic media, to be accountable to the PCI . Former CJI J S Varma says: "irresponsible talk is best ignored.". Ambika Soni and Katju ji are on the same page. She sermonizes the Media to sensitise itself. A perfect Quid pro quo deal,it is to implement the Congress's mandate. Katju ji tries to justify his viewpoint by stating that since the lawyers are accountable to Bar Council and Judges could be impeached by the Parliament, the electronic Media must be accountable to the PCI or the Lokpal. This is specious and misleading. The menace of 'Paid Journalism'is certainly a stigma on the Fourth estate.But, why paint the entire Media as corrupt? Why not file defammation suits in courts against the Media. Making the Press subservient to the Executive is liable to be misused and manipulated by the Executive. This will be worse than 'Paid Journalism'. Let us not forget the contribution made by the print and electronic media in exposing successive scams. Demand for Media accountability is anathema to Freedom of Speech flowing from the Right to Life, enshrined in the Constitution of India.

The comparison between two former Directors of CBI D P Kohli ( 1963-68) and D Sen (1971-77) is not apt. One must appreciate the opposite scenarios in which the two functioned. Consider the scenarios. While Kohli as the founder Director of CBI in 1963 functioned in a comparatively non controversial environment under two successive premiers: J L Nehru and L B Shastri, there was no political interference during those halcyon days of Indian bureaucracy. The paradigm shift in work ethos took place when Indira Gandhi took over the reins in 1969. The corruption was re-defined. The CBI's erosion of its credibility reached its zenith during the national emergency declared by Madam Gandhi (1975-77). The CBI became politicised. The Shah Commission of Inquiry indicted the CBI for allowing itself to be misused as an instrument of harassment of innocent people by Indira Gandhi and all- powerful Sanjay Gandhi assisted by 'chaatukaars'. All of them are now occupying high positions in the GoI and the Congress party by switching their loyalties. Both acted like bulldozers while seeking compliance of their orders . How could D Sen , the then Director(CBI) , an officer of great professional competence who inspired fear and awe ,be expected to oppose the dictators during the national emergency when the entire clan of high profile IAS officers, as also observed by the Shah Commission, "worked as agents of GOI and zealously collaborated with the authoritarian regime" ? This is how the politicization of CBI started. The IAS officers chose to prostrate when asked to bow before Indira-Sanjay duo. How did the CBI become a convenient tool in the hands of present day politicians to armtwist the bureaucrats and politicians , is anybody’s guess

I am convinced that inclusion of Caste in Census 2011 is an Electoral Fraud! The views supporting caste reservations in India are subjective. Continuance of reservations based on anomalies of the past is fallacious.. A Civil society does not permit inequities. Our present society is ‘unequal’. No purpose is served by repeating the atrocities allegedly perpetrated by the high castes( One wonders who coined this phrase in the face of sub-castes within castes) on the lesser mortals. Lord Krishna ( A yadhuvanshi ) is worshipped by all Hindus irrespective of their castes. The triumvirate of Mulayam, Sharad and Lalu must ponder over this before playing the OBC card. The ‘yadavas’ are among the most affluent and influential classes. Persons belonging to the so-called high castes are presently performing the most menial jobs.Ironcally, the creamy layers in SC,ST and OBC have been blocking benefits to the less fortunates in their categories. How could one forgive (Murtidevi) Mayavati? The assets owned by her are mind-blowing. Instead of building class rooms for dalit poors in UP , she erected hundreds of Statues of dalit icons- all at public cost. There are anomalies galore in the prevalent caste system. The ‘Vaishyas’ in Bihar are listed as OBC, but as high castes elsewhere. The “Muslim kayasthas” are unjustifiably listed as OBC in UP due to vote bank politics. The Gurjars are OBC in J&K. They are agitating for ST status in Rajasthan much to the annoyance of the Meenas who are allegedly eating into the shares of the STs of the North-east. An all-round confusion has been created by the caste-driven politicians. Against this background, will the inclusion of ‘Caste’ in the Census questionnaire not open a Pandora ’s Box of divisive politics in the country. The memories of post- Mandal violence across northern India is a historical reality. Please watch my words. This time,the scope and dimension of violence will be far more ferocious.It is futile to expect any support from the myopic , self-seeking politicians. The Judicial pro-activism, if at all, will be struck down by legislative arrogance . How to save the country from the possible caste war that may reach a flash point in the aftermath of the Census report? An “Intellectual Revolution” is the need of the hour.The Egg-heads of the country must unite and rise above petty politics ! The Editors, journalists, writers,reporters,poets,the electronic and print media,the social activists, the sociologists and eminent social thinkers must endeavour to create public awareness against the evil of casteism.There must also be a debate on the need for “disenfranchisement” in respect of SC,ST and OBC categories, if the reservations are to be continued. Same logic must apply to religious minorities. This will make them self reliant and not dependent on wily politicians.It is now or never!

J L Nehru, a liberal democrat, governed India by allowing the public sector to attain “commanding heights of economy” to build infra-structures. Sardar Patel , India’s Bismarck, ruled with an “iron hand”. Lal Bahadur Shastri governed with his “modesty and honesty”. Indira Gandhi ruled through “Nationalization” and later through “Emergency’, that proved her waterloo. Sanjay Gandhi, the extra-constitutional authority during the emergency , ruled through “ Coercion”. Rajiv Gandhi governed through “Missions”. Morarji Desai governed through his “ Obduracy and the infamous Urine therapy”. P V Narasimha Rao ruled by exchanging “Suite-cases of black money”. H D Deve Gowda , a Prime Minister by chance, ruled by upholding “ liberalization”. Atal Behari Vajpai governed through “delegation of power” to his close confidants both at “home” and “office”. Dr Man Mohan Singh, the de jure PM, governs through “Groups of Ministers” . Sonia Gandhi, the de facto PM, rules by “ back-seat driving” to avoid accountability. States’ Chief Ministers rule by building infrastructure (including parks and memorials) through “Corruption” and by playing the Dalit, Hindutva and minority cards”. Can the Aam aadmi still claim with pride: "Mera Desh MahaanjQuery15205886916291642998_1339834085652?”

The deadwood in the Indian governmental bureaucracy is like the non-performing assets. The nationalised Indian banks have failed to overcome this problem on their sides due to lack of pro-active approach. At least, the GOI must lead by examples by chopping off the deadwood by strengthening its performance appraisal system and applying it effectively before it is too late. Its application must be across the board and irrespective of the organised Service to which the laggards belong. This will cut down the existing strength of bureaucracy by 40% and removing corruption in the process. Unfortunately, we can't apply the same guillotine to the political executive due to compulsions of real-politik !!!

I wonder whether Bal Thackeray has made any contribution to the Indian society. It did not take me long to conclude that as a narrow-minded individual,he has always generated hatred, disharmony and friction among the peace-loving motley of indian communities co-habiting in cosmopolitan Mumbai. He is merely wasting his time and energy in building Berlin walls within Maharashtra. Where were his paper tigers hiding during the 26/11 attack at Mumbai? His excessive "patriotism" borde-ring on "Xenophobia", is misplaced. Both Shiv Sena and the MNS workers must dedicate themselves to the cause of the poor slum dwellers of Mumbai instead of sitting in the air-conditioned comforts of their ivory towers! Let them not tarnish the name of the great Shivaji Maharaj! The country already has enough problems at its hands which the incompetent Government of India, is unable to cope with. One more appeal. Let Bal, Udhav and Raj Thackeray refrain from denigrating the achievements of any artistes or cricketers by spewing venom against them through "Saamna". It is strange that even at this age and his failing health, Bal Thackeray is not showing sign of maturity by making plebeian statements against others. He has deservedly earned the epithet of "bad cholesterol" among Mumbaikars!

A seemingly innocuous statement by Sharad Pawar on Dec 20, 2009, attributing the existing price rise of consumer goods to ‘global warming’ jolted me into writing this piece. Sheer baloney, was it! The price inflation during the past two years has been phenomenal. Does it not demonstrate GOI’s failure in controlling price rise? Will the country’s economists including the PM agree with such frivolous and escapist statement of Agriculture minister on ‘Food Security’? Let us spare a word about the BPLs (37% as per GOI estimate) . They do not get two square meals a day. They merely get election promises on ‘Food Security’ in terms of UPA’s mandate. On the contrary, the mollycoddled MPs who represent them get total’ food security’ through highly subsidized canteens located inside the Parliament House, its Annexe and the Library. Is this concealed subsidy justified? One feels such food security to MPs in the temple of democracy is a blot on the Parliament. How could these parliamentarians digest food at such abysmally low price and debate the issue of 'Food Security ‘for the down-trodden. This is hypocrisy at its worst!. Worse still, enjoying virtually free lunches and dinners by the staff and officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Sectts looks to me down- right vulgar, to say the least! I have personally seen them shamelessly enjoying the 5-Star grub during the deliberations of the Standing Finance Committees attached to various ministries. All this at the tax-payers’ cost. Will the Speaker, Lok Sabha and Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha jointly ponder over these matters seriously in a transparent manner and order immediate withdrawal of concealed subsidies to Parliamentary food jaunts. These heavenly canteens must also be declared in-accessible to the Parliamentary Secretariat babus and Security Staff. Let the Parliamentarians cutting across party lines lead by examples and boycott these canteens, run by the Railways, if they have the slightest concerns for the poor.

Buta Singh’s ugly defence of Chief Justice Dinakaran of Karnataka High Court on caste considerations against allegations made by a body of advocates is most reprehensible particularly when his own conduct has been under cloud and investigations by CBI in the bribery scam is underway. The misuse of high Constitutional Office by him in promoting the illegal activities of his son, calls for severe punishment under the law of the land. If he is subjected to Narco-analysis test, more startling truths will come out. The CBI is expected to finalise investigation and book the culprits. Buta has habitually played either his minority card or the caste card, whenever his misdeeds were exposed. Law of the land applies uniformly to all and sundry irrespective of their religions, castes, political or ideological affiliations. The self-styled representatives of Scheduled Castes have done nothing for the uplift and empowerment of the weaker sections they pretend to represent. They have exploited them as part of vote bank. The likes of Buta Singh wish that the SC group remained perpetually weak so that their monopoly continued for ever. Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar, one of the greatest visionaries, India has produced, who drafted the Indian Constitution, never vouched for reservation for SC/ST in perpetuity. He visualised its deleterious effect on the minds of the beneficiaries, in the long run. The decidennial continuance of reservation for SC/ST and now OBC, has divided the country on caste lines besides causing avoidable heart burnings. Is it not the high time that the policy of reservation is jettisoned once for all and all citizens treated as equals, both in letter and spirit? Is this possible without a strong political will? Alternatively, another view, which is fast gaining momentum, is that persons belonging to SC/ST/OBC must be divested, by legislation, of all benefits, bestowed by the Constitution of India, once they are convicted under the law of the land! What could be the legal implications? Imagine a hypothetical scenario where there is no distinction based on class, castes and religion. And, no reservations. Would the five star icons like Sonia and Rahul Gandhi still visit, share meals and stay overnight with the poor dalits under the thatched roof of their leaky homes? Perhaps, never! This will always remain a Utopian dream! Never a reality!

Though complimentary to each other, there is poor chemistry between the Investigation and the Prosecution wing of the CBI. This is reflected in the poor success rate of this premier agency before the courts. While the investigation wing undertakes the tedious job of gathering clinching evidences, the job of the Prosecution wing cannot be under estimated. Effective presentation of cases before the CBI- designated trial courts ,Appellate courts and even the Supreme Court, is a significant exercise that is crucial to the final outcome of the courts' judgments. During my service career , I had personally followed up this case. It is understood that though the proposal for grant of 25% incentive to officers' of Prosecution wing ( on the analogy of similar incentive admissible to officers of Investigation wing of the CBI) was supported by DOP&T and its Financial Advisor to Min of Finance, the same was summarily rejected by MOF .Does this not amount to perpetuation of discrimination for no valid reason. DOP&T is headed by the PM. We have now a more experienced FM. I suppose, the UPA-II ( after electoral detoxification of UPA-I ) is considered more transparent, just and fair. May I request the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister through this website to intervene into the matter and remove all kinds of discriminations and anomalies under the existing dispensation

It is high time that the GOI cut its umbilical cord with the colonial past. Let the GOI Ministers no longer, be treated like Indian princes receiving fat privy purses (Read as salaries), a large number of freebies and a still larger complement of Personal Staff, to boot. Annual expenditure on Ministers’ personal staff runs into crores of rupees with no matching benefits. On the contrary, it facilitates corruption. Ghost man-power is ‘employed’ by ministers and salaries due to them pocketed. These are hard realities of the present political Executive of the Union of India and the federal states. Ministers heading economic and social sector ministries like Coal, Petroleum, and Heavy Industries, Banking, Finance, Commerce, Agriculture, HRD, Rural Development etc mis-use public utilities (including PSUs and PSBs) as personal fiefdoms utilizing their unlimited manpower, transport facilities etc. Their personal staff are deployed to facilitate misuse of powers. A minister who is confident enough to attend to official work, does not require any PS or PA. He /She is free to summon his ministerial officers for briefing or seeking clarification on any point. The fact that a large number of officers belonging to organized services vie for appointment as Private Secretaries to richly endowed ministers bear testimony to the lucrative business that it is! Honestly and seriously speaking, the requirement of a Minister in GOI can be met by engaging at the most three persons instead of the existing over ten. This includes a peon who should also be an Usher. The Prime Minister as the Cabinet Minister-in-charge of DOP&T must put a full stop to the existing practice of Ministers poaching ministries’ officers/ staff for deploying in personal section on informal basis, while pocketing the salaries earmarked for the regulars! This secret, I bet, may not be known to many Civil servants!