Bihar’s law & disorder

There is little doubt that Bihar Governor Buta Singh has frittered away a historic opportunity to provide the citizens of Bihar with a minimally decent and non-politicised administration. IPS officers like R. Sanjay, who had been posted to Siwan on the orders of the Election Commission, are being transferred — apparently because they were cracking down on politicians with criminal connections. Chief Secretary of the State G.S. Kang has chosen to proceed on long leave — apparently because of disquiet at the way in which transfers are being handled. On the ground, the law and order situation continues to deteriorate. The recent bomb blasts that killed prominent engineers in the state are evidence of the fact. Agrarian violence continues unabated, and there is some evidence that insurgency and terrorism directed against India and making their way into the country via Bihar. Bihar continues to burn, while the governor fiddles.

President’s rule was an opportunity to conduct administration on relatively impartial considerations. Bihar has been wrecked by the politicisation of even routine administration. But it is clear that even under the present dispensation, the state continues to manipulate the administration for partisan political reasons. The objective behind transfers is not to uphold the rule of law, provide security for citizens, punish criminals and crack down on the perpetrators of violence. On the contrary, the state government seems to be doing everything it can to protect those politicians that pose such a threat to the citizens of Bihar. This does not augur well for the future of Bihar.

This cycle of violence will cast a shadow over the forthcoming elections in the state. If even President’s rule cannot restore a minimum degree of credibility in the state administration, the Election Commission will have its task cut out for it. The governor’s basic mandate under

President’s rule is to let the administration do its job well. Furthermore, Buta Singh also represents India’s marginalised communities and should recognise that their interests will be best served by institutionalising impartial administration. But in Bihar, the governor himself appears to be turning out to be part of the problem.