To millions of harassed bureaucrats , that is how Supreme Court's order of
yesterday might appear
* WHAT ?
> Bureaucrats must not function
on verbal instructions from superiors and the political executives , as it
leads to favoritism and corruption
> Fixed tenures for bureaucrats
and the setting up of a Civil Services Board ( CSB ) , to advise governments on
transfers , postings , promotions and disciplinary actions
* WHY ?
Supreme Court advanced following
reasons :
# In the present political scenario , the
role of civil servants has become complex and onerous
#
Often , they have to take decisions with far reaching consequences in
the economic and technological fields
#
Their decisions must be transparent and in public interest. They should
be fully accountable to the community they serve
* HOW ?
> Each level of bureaucrat
must send their " decisions " to the lower level , in writing . (
Will emails do ? )
> If a bureaucrat receives
" verbal " decision from his superior , he shall make appropriate
noting on the file . ( Shall he record that he does not agree with this
decision - and why - but is forced to take it under verbal order ? )
* RESULT ?
> Decision making process ,
which has already considerably slowed down over the past one year , will come
to a grinding halt , for the simple reasons that , at the time of taking a
decision ,
* there is absence of adequate / impeccable
data on which to base decision ( - concerned vested interest parties will
ensure that relevant data / facts / figures are never revealed ! )
* there is no pre-existing and well laid-out
" Policy Framework " , governing the issue at hand
* no bureaucrat - or his political boss -
will ever want to take a decision , which , successors to follow , will quote
as a " precedent "and not based on policy
* QUESTIONS ?
> Is there here , some
confusion between a " Wrong " decision and a " Dishonest " decision ?
Don't millions of honest people continue to take decisions , which in hindsight
, appear wrong ?
> Isn't a " Dishonest
" decision one which got taken , solely for the benefit of the
decision-taker ( or his family / friends etc )
?
> Are we trying to replace
honest human " Judgement " by some rigid , hide-bound rules ? by some
computer algorithms ?
Historian Arnold Toyanbee , once said :
" Only two things are certain
in life - death and taxes "
From now on , in India , it will be
- death and delays
Will our Ministers re-enact British comedy serial , " Yes Minister " ?
Will our Ministers re-enact British comedy serial , " Yes Minister " ?
Only time will tell whether this decision of the Supreme Court , was "
Right " or " Wrong " , but we are sure of one thing : this is an
" Honest " decision
* hemen parekh
( 01, Nov 2013 )