Bureaucracy in our country is also called the steel jacket of administration. It is true that the structure of our bureaucracy and its functionality is a legacy left behind by the British rulers of India. During the British rule, the top services were called ICS or India Civil Service. Rules and regulations governing the ICS cadres were framed by the British. Very few Indians who passed ICS, too, were governed by those rules. The Congress being in the forefront of the freedom movement was hardly cordial to the bureaucracy, calling it the hangover of the colonial rule. The general opinion in Indian intellectual circles on the eve of independence was that once the Congress Government is settled in the seat of power, the first thing it would do would be to remove the ICS officers. However, nothing of the sort happened when the National Government was in place. Somebody asked Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister, whether he was going to oust the ICS officers from service. The Sardar is reported to have said that he would very much like to throw them out but who will run the administration, he asked? This episode reveals to us the importance of the bureaucracy.
In any way, we have travelled a good deal from those times. Sea change has happened in the entire ICS cadres, which were converted into IAS, IPS and IFoS, IFS etc. Our bureaucracy is fully nationalized and its role in taking India along the path of development and scientific and technological temperament is worth writing in letters of gold. There is no doubt that Indian bureaucracy comprises the cream of our intellectual class who are running the Government machinery under strict rules, tradition and specific bureaucratic culture. Successive Government in New Delhi have been bringing home to the entire bureaucratic machinery that its thinking, approach and vision to national issues as well as developmental exercise has to be India-specific. Along with that amendment to the rules are carried out from time to time with the sole intention of streamlining the administration. Soon after becoming independent, India began her march for development in all walks of life so as to move onward to the new century with new life style.
Giving due importance to the role of efficient and patriotic bureaucracy in building the nation and service to the people, the Modi-led Government is determined to provide reasonable space to the bureaucrats in taking considered decisions in crucial matters that affect the entire nation. With this purpose in mind, some significant changes in All India Service rules have been announced by the Central Government in regard to service conditions of IAS, IPS and IFoS etc. IAS officers working under Central Government cannot be suspended without the nod of Prime Minister, a move aimed at allowing bureaucrats to take decisions without any fear of political backlash. A relief has also been provided in the revised rules to all-India services officers working in various states in the revised rules under which the Centre needs to be informed within 48 hours if any officer is suspended by them followed by a detailed report within a fortnight. The rules also cut short to two months from three months the period of suspension of an officer by the Centre and States. The order of suspension, if it is extended, will now be valid for four months as against existing six months period. IAS officers working under Central Government shall only be suspended on the recommendations of the central review committee as amended with the approval of Minister-in-charge, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
The reformed rules have been made with clear purpose of providing space and security to the all-India Service officers. As has been noted, sometimes difficulties and hurdles are created for the all-India Service officers in dispassionately functioning in their office and performing their duties. Some of them are even victimized by bringing one or other baseless charges against them just because they do not fall in line for doing irregular things or taking partisan decisions. Under new rules, the IAS and equal cadres will be protected against whimsical or political vendetta. However, with this security provided to the IAS officers, we expect them to markedly improve and upgrade their services to the satisfaction of the people and the Government. They have to remember that the nation expects much from their ability, efficiency and honesty.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel