Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday 31 October 2013

Solomon come to Judgement ?



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 " ? 



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  )