Mins argue over filling secret reports of IAS officers

Jaipur: Amidst the ongoing tussle between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot over leadership in the state, differences are coming to the fore among the cabinet ministers.
Reacting to food and civil supplies minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas’ demand from the chief minister to give ministers the right to fill the Annual Confidential Reports (ACR) of IAS officers under them, PHED minister Mahesh Joshi said he enjoyed all the powers in his department.
Later, Khachariyawas replied, “Joshi is senior to me in age and experience, but he is lying.” Khachariyawas added, “If he (Joshi) has decided to be a slave, then be it.”
The food minister said Joshi might be the most powerful minister if he is getting to write the ACR of IAS officers in his department. “But he should clearly state that he is writing the ACR. This is a question of order,” Khachariyawas said. He added why should a minister object to his demand for the right to fill the IAS officers’ ACR. Khachariyawas said, “I want to see a minister who would not want to write the officers’ ACR.”
Minister Joshi, however, claimed that there was no hindrance to functioning in his department.
The food minister countered it by saying, “Even my works gets done. When I was not the minister, then also I used to get my work done. But its about getting people’s work done.”
Kachariyawas clarified that his demand was not against his party government but against the administrative system. “I fought to save this government. I sing the pagans of it every day. I will now fight for my right too.” TNN