Former Haryana CM Rao Birender Singh Remembered on 105th Birth Anniversary: IAS Officer Recalls His Integrity, Firm Leadership, and Rare Willingness to Revise Official Assessment
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana – Pawan Kumar Bansal
Remembering ex Haryana CM and Union Minister Rao Birender Singh on his 105th Birth Anniversary
By our enlightened reader Natrajan Bala Baskar, Haryana cadre IAS who worked as his PS while he was Union Minister
During 1990–91, I worked as his Private Secretary, when he was Union Minister of Food and Civil Supplies. I learnt a lot from him in that one year. He was not popular with officers, as he was a hard task master and was sharp with his tongue. The redeeming qualities that he had were mostly hidden from public view.
I remember an instance of his writing the annual confidential report of a very senior IAS officer, who was Chairman of the Food Corporation of India. Both the Chairman and the Managing Director of the FCI were straight forward, no-nonsense officers. The MD had a sense of humour and was always relaxed and could exchange banter with the Minister, even while disagreeing with him. The Chairman was a serious dyed-in-the-wool bureaucrat, who would take offence at the Minister’s remarks, and tell him so to his face.
Even small requests from the Minister were not accommodated by the FCI (by the MD, since the Chairman was not involved much in operations). When I saw the ACRs of both officers, neatly written in hand by the Minister, I was surprised that the MD was given an “Outstanding” assessment and the Chairman was damned by faint praise, which could be construed as an adverse remark.
I went to the Minister with the Chairman’s report and requested him not to ruin the chances of the officer becoming a Secretary. Rao Saheb was at his petulant best: “Is it my assessment or my Private Secretary’s assessment that is required?”
I held my ground: “Sir, you know that this officer is known for his integrity. Kindly consider revising your remarks.”
Minister in Hindi: “OK, if you are not happy, bring me a draft. I will sign it.”
I replied in Hindi: “Sir, you have to write it yourself. They want your remarks, not the Private Secretary’s.”
Minister: “Just leave it and go. I will think about it.”
The next day I saw that the Minister had re-written the report, praising the officer’s integrity and ability to stand up to pressures. I thought that if only that officer had smiled at some of the Minister’s humorous remarks, he might have earned an “Outstanding” report like his colleague, the MD.
I cannot think of senior IAS officers agreeing to revise their assessment like Rao Saheb did.
khabre junction