It almost passed off as an insignificant event. Neither the AIADMK government invited the media to the swearing-in ceremony of S. Ayyar, a retired IAS officer, as the Local Body Ombudsman nor the Opposition has criticised the appointment.
Based on the 13 Finance Commission’s recommendation, the Local Body Ombudsman, an independent institution, will deal with complaints on elected representatives like Mayors to officials of local bodies.
The appointment of Ombudsman assumes significance in the light of large scale of funding, especially to the urban local bodies and allegations of large-scale corruption. In the corridors of power, he is perceived to be close to the ruling party and questions naturally are raised therefore on the efficiency of the system.
It is an open secret that Ayyar was earlier the State Election Commissioner, appointed as soon as the AIADMK came to power in May 2011. During the previous AIADMK rule, he was the first choice to be the managing director of Tasmac, when the State took over retail liquor trade.
As often happens with IAS officers and bureaucrats with perceived political leanings, Ayyar was shifted out and posted in the insignificant post of disciplinary proceedings commissioner in two cities during the DMK regime that followed.
The Assembly elections may be a year away.
The AIADMK is still in power. But there are at least some in the DMK who have started dreaming already. As the State has elected the DMK and the AIADMK alternatively since the 1990s, the DMK leaders think that they are in with a chance now, irrespective of the verdict on AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa’s appeal in the disproportionate assets case.
According to the grapevine in the DMK, there are some who have started preparing a list on the possible portfolios of ministers and their personal assistants, both political and administrative. Some fore-thinking it surely is. But is it in public interest?
The members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) were taken by surprise when the State government decided to postpone the Global Investors Meet 2015 scheduled in Chennai, even when the State Industries Minister P. Thangamani was attending a road show in the run-up to the meet in Salem.
State Industries Minister P. Thangamani along with Edappadi K. Palanisamy, State Highways and Rural Ports Minister, addressed the road show, which continued till lunch.
Mr. Thangamani spoke at length on the favourable industrial climate prevailing in Tamil Nadu, which also proved a most preferred investment destination in the country.
Within minutes after the Ministers left the hall, the participants came to know about the postponement of the investors meet to September. The CII members were wondering how the decision to postpone such an important event was taken without the knowledge of the Industries Minister!
Ever since the new Director of Collegiate Education took over, there has been a simmering discontent among associations of college teachers.
The current director also holds the additional post of principal of Arignar Anna Arts College in Cheyyar, Tiruvannamalai.
The Association of University Teachers had pointed this out soon after he took over asking how he could render his duties as a principal sitting miles away in Chennai.
The officials say that several files were pending since he could not clear them at the college. the Government College Teachers Manram has petitioned not just to the Higher Education Minister but also the Higher Education Secretary seeking his removal.
