Act now to combat corruption

The investigations undertaken by the CBI and the Intelligence Bureau in the wake of the series of bomb blasts in Bombay in early 1993 and the subsequent reports about the operation of organised mafia networks in several parts of the country have pointed towards the unwholesome alliance between politicians, public servants and criminal elements.

In this background it is not surprising to find almost daily references to the damage done and the serious security concerns arising from the operation of the politico-bureaucratic-criminal nexus. This cannot be easily controverted as an official report prepared in the Union Home Ministry in late 1993 confirmed the existence of such networks.

The growing public dissatisfaction is manifested by a virtual distrust of the governmental machinery. Cynicism has got to the level of demands being made for a change in the form of government and replacing the Cabinet system by the Presidential type. Despite the continuing debate and criticism there is so far no evidence of the elected and appointed Executive changing for the better or of the Parliament being capable of enforcing the much needed correctives.

A relevant question which has been asked with increased frequency relates to the role and responsibility of the superior services manning key administrative positions in the States and at the Centre, specially the three All India Services (AIS) i.e. the Indian Administrative, Police and Forest Services. The brief position is that, today, in most states the cadres of the AIS stand fractured and demoralised through the systematic politicisation to which their constituents have been subjected over time.

The manner in which the AIS and all other state services have been manipulated has eroded the pivotal position of the state chief secretaries, directors general of police and all other heads of departments and liquidated their crucial command and control roles. I do not intend in the present writing to expatiate further on the effective ruination of all public services — which has led to insensitivity, unaccountability and dishonesty among their ranks — but look at the possibilities of resurgence.

Among the states, for the past several years the junior and middle rank IAS officers of UP have been striving to identify “the most corrupt” in their cadre and to have them proceeded against. This effort has not been allowed to succeed by all those who have a vested interest in the continuation of the existing state of affairs.

In this context it was interesting to see a recent report that the younger elements in the cadre have since resolved to bust the existing incumbent and, instead, have an elected chairman of the Uttar Pradesh IAS Association (the established tradition in all states and at the Centre is to have one of the senior most members of the service as the Chairman).

The first circular, issued by a group of 16 officers, expresses shame over the “monstrous vultures”, “corruption hardened” and “spineless specimens” among their superiors, whom they hold guilty for the obtaining situation, and asks the question: “did we join the IAS to share bread with someone whom we could have avoided like plague if he were not in the same service as ourselves?”. This group is considering various means to identify officers who have amassed properties; it has established a post office box number to elicit information about the corrupt among their clan. It remains to be seen whether and to what extent these young IAS officers will succeed.

It is now almost two years since the Union Administrative Reforms Department launched an initiative to remedy the serious ailments which afflict the functioning of the AIS in the states. The PM had convened a meeting of the state Chief Ministers and urged them to implement several concrete proposals which would lead to more productive management of the services.

Among these was a vital suggestion to depoliticise postings and transfers and entrust this responsibility to Civil Services Boards chaired by the state Chief Secretaries. Nothing further has been heard about the outcome and it appears that the Centre has accepted defeat. If the Civil Services are expected to perform effectively it is necessary that the PM continues to exert all possible pressure on the states, till at least some results start flowing.

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