The return of the prodigal is not always a story with a happy ending. Mr George Fernandes's return to the cabinet and his resumption of office as defence minister was carried through at a smart pace, given that the Venkataswami commission has not yet completed its inquiry into Mr Fernandes's possible role in the defence deals scandal exposed by tehelka.com. The effectiveness of a government is in large part related to its transparency and consistency. Although the Election Commission has so far failed to institute the requirement of clean backgrounds for electoral candidates, it is nevertheless true that a Union minister under investigation for a charge of corruption is unacceptable to the people. The Union government had not stopped functioning because of the absence of Mr Fernandes. Besides, even if it had, simple common sense would say that Mr Fernandes's return was not the answer. And if Mr Jaswant Singh was finding it impossible to carry the extra load of the defence portfolio at this critical time, somebody else should have been found to take it on. Defence is a particularly sensitive ministry at any time. With the terrible uncertainties of the moment, it is bound to seem especially suspicious that a minister under the shadow of a corruption charge should be brought back almost at the sole insistence of the prime minister. The general excuse being bandied about, that Mr Fernandes is more trouble outside the ministry than in, is unbecoming of any government. It is almost a declaration of its ineffectuality when pitted against a powerful former friend. So far, the sudden spurts of activity exhibited by the prime minister have usually cut through the cant and bickering of allies and partymen or other members of the sangh parivar. This time, however, his decisions are quite bewildering. Besides Mr Fernandes, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee has also brought back the Bharatiya Janata Party member of parliament from Ahmedabad, Mr Harin Pathak, as minister of state and put him in charge of defence production. He had quit because charges had been framed against him in a murder and rioting case. Evidently, Mr Vajpayee is no longer bothered about insignificant things like credibility. Neither is he concerned about the image of his ever-expanding cabinet. The fact that he brought back Mr Bangaru Laxman, the erstwhile BJP president disgraced in the Tehelka scandal, as chairman of the Rajya Sabha house committee, should have indicated a change. This may be the beginning of a determined attempt to erase the scandal and its significance from public and political memory. By being proactive in favour of the allegedly lawless and corrupt, Mr Vajpayee is sending the worst signals to the judiciary and the people. Such tales seldom have happy endings.