New Delhi

May 29, 2004

"Musical Chairs" in Prime Minister Office in South Block

J. N. Dixit wants Brajesh Mishra chambers 'Maara-Maari' for rooms amongst senior bureaucrats T. K. A. Nair has compromise and occupy smaller room

TKA Nair assumed office as principal secretary to Prime Minister on Friday and his first task was to 'pack-off' A S Dulat presently Advisor on Kashmir Affairs in Prime Minister office. Dulat is known to be too close to Farooq Abdulla and was in PMO to assist Brajesh Mishra.

Second task was to sign an order to usher in M K Narayanan
former Director of Intelligence Bureau as Special Advisor (security)

***

Many interesting sidelights about PMO are being talked about.

J N Dixit and M K Narayanan two Rajiv loyalists and regularly
contributing centre page articles in Asian Age and other English dailies. They have been rewarded. Two are master-minds of IPKF Operations Both have been ranked as Union Ministers of State.

While Prithviraj Chauhan a maharashtra MP is MOS in PMO.
Therefore there are three Ministers of State in PMO.

***

Ashok Saikia IAS officer of 1971 cadre Assam cadre has been
asked to continue by TKA Nair principal secretary, until further orders. Much more interesting sidelight was that Atal Bihari Vajpayee requested Dr Man Mohan Singh to approve some of the foreign assignments recommended by NDA government about five or six IAS and IRS officers including that of Ashok Saikia.

***

Dr S Narayan economic advisor to the Prime Minister sent in a note to the Principal Secretary Nair, to indicate the status whether to continue till Union Budget is presented or can he opt out of the office. There was no reply to the note. Mostly Dr Man Mohan Singh would like to take the experiences of Dr Narayan in drawing the Union Budget. , Dr Narayan might be asked to continue for three months

***

Six IAS joint secretaries in PMO are awaiting 'orders' Whether to continue or not. Two of them would like to get reversion to the state cadre.While the other three wanting to get adjusted with economic ministries or foreign deputation.

***

Pulok Chatterji is the joint secretary in PMO. He is close to Mrs Sonia Gandhi as he served her as Private Secretary to the Leader of Opposition during Vajpayee regime. Close friends of Chatterji say, in a lighter that Pulok is likely to be the 'interlocutor' between 7 Race Course Road and 10 Janpath.

***

18 junior level officers of the rank of directors in PMO are being scrutinised. They have come on deputation. Most of them are likely to be relieved, say in a fortnight.

***

Much more juicy stories are making the rounds about PMO.
Now it not the turn of civil servants, but about 'chairs-chambers' J N Dixit in a three piece suit,entered PMO on Thursday and occupied the chambers of Ashok Saikia. Now he has an eye on Brajesh Mishra's room which has more interior decorations, panels,scenario and portraits with split airconditioners. But that has been allotted to TKA Nair as Principal Secretary. With the exit of A S Dulat, Dixit holding a Minister of State rank politely requested Nair to move to Dulat chambers and leave Brajesh Mishra chambers for himself (Dixit.) Dr Narayan and P S Raghavan and AS Dulat were in one corridor. Most unfortunately Prathviraj Chauhan the Minister of state in PMO is occupying the 'corner' room which was once held by Naresh Chandra as Advisor on
Ayodhya during Narasimha Rao regime. Chauhan wants to
get into Brajesh Mishra Chamber. These rooms are in first floor. While on the ground floor many of the joint secretaries and deputy secretaries are accommodated. What a crisis for chambers ! When the main "chair" itself was being sacrificed by Sonia to Dr Man Mohan why should we bother? was the cryptic words of a senior official.

***

Almost all the vechicles of officials in PMO has the last three digits with three zeros.Ambassadors and Maruti Esteem deluxe are the two brands provided to joint secretaries and above.There is a special parking lable for 45 cars with "7 RCR complex" they can drive straight into PMH that is Prime Minister House.

***

Prime Minister's Office

The President of India appoints the leader of the party or alliance that enjoys majority support in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) as Prime Minister. In case no single party or alliance has a majority, the leader of the largest single party or alliance is appointed Prime Minister, but he/she has to subsequently secure a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha. The Union Council of Ministers is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister can be a member of either the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha. As Prime Minister, he is the Leader of the House to which he belongs. The Prime Minister is also the Chairman of the Planning Commission of India.

As head of the Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister oversees the work of all the Ministries. He presides over Cabinet meetings, which are normally held in the Cabinet Room of the Prime Minister's Office. The Union Cabinet functions on the principle of "collective responsibility".

The Prime Minister's Office, popularly known as the 'PMO', is located at

South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India-110 011. Telephone: 91-11-23012312.

Fax: 91-11-23019545 / 91-11-23016857.

The South Block is one of the two secretariat blocks (the other is known as North Block) that flank Rashtrapati Bhavan - the residence of the President of India.

The PMO provides secretarial assistance to the Prime Minister. It is headed by the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister. The PMO includes the anti-corruption unit and the public wing dealing with grievances.

The subject-matter of files required to be submitted to the Prime Minister depends on whether he is holding direct charge of the Ministry or whether there is a Cabinet Minister or Minister of State (Independent Charge) in charge of the Ministry.

In the case of the latter, most matters are dealt with by the Cabinet Minister / Minister of State-in-charge. Only important policy issues, which the Minister concerned feels should be submitted to the Prime Minister for orders or information, are received in the PMO.

In cases where the Prime Minister is the Minister-in-charge, all matters requiring Ministerial approval not delegated to the Minister of State / Deputy Minister, if any, are submitted for orders. The Prime Minister has traditionally been the Minister-in-charge of the Departments of Space, Atomic Energy, and Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

Since the Prime Minister is Chairman of the Planning Commission, relevant files are forwarded to the PMO for his comments and clearance.

Some of the important matters that require the Prime Minister's personal attention include the following:

• Important defence-related issues;
• Decorations, both civilian and defence, where Presidential approval is required;
• All important policy issues;
• Proposals for appointment of Indian Heads of Missions abroad and requests for grant of agreement for foreign Heads of Missions posted to India;
• All important decisions relating to the Cabinet Secretariat;
• Appointments to State Administrative Tribunals and the Central Administrative Tribunal, UPSC, Election Commission, Appointment of members of statutory/constitutional Committees, Commissions attached to various Ministries;
• All policy matters relating to the administration of the Civil Services and administrative reforms;
• Special Packages announced by the Prime Minister for States are monitored in the PMO and periodical reports submitted to Prime Minister; and
• All judicial appointments for which Presidential approval is required.

Parliament Questions

Parliament Questions relating to the Ministries and Departments of which Prime Minister is the Minister-in-charge are answered by a MOS nominated for the purpose or by Prime Minister himself.

PM's Funds

The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and the National Defence Fund (NDF) are operated directly from the PMO.

The Prime Minister of India is the Head of the Union (Federal) Government, as distinct from the President of India, who is the Head of State. Since India has adopted the Westminster model of constitutional democracy, it is the Prime Minister who oversees the day-to-day functioning of the Union (Federal) Government of India.

The Prime Minister is assisted in this task by his Council of Ministers, comprising Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State with Independent Charge, Ministers of State who work with Cabinet Ministers, and Deputy Ministers.