Living with post-Bedi normalcy8217;

The row between the former UT Inspector General of Police Kiran Bedi and former Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta, brought certain important ...

The row between the former UT Inspector General of Police Kiran Bedi and former Home Secretary Anuradha Gupta, brought certain important issues to the fore. The unfortunate upshot of the controversy was the Union Home Ministry8217;s decision to recall Bedi to Delhi. Bedi8217;s style of functioning was clearly unorthodox. Some people quote rules to stress the point that Bedi had overstepped her authority.

Many bureaucrats argue that the quot;Kiran Bedi approachquot; was unacceptable for it could result in a collapse of the administrative system. Some also say that Bedi was questioning the supremacy of civil authority over security forces, which is undemocratic. There are also many who contend that she was publicity hungry and self-serving. Perhaps all that her critics say is correct. Yet, what is incredible is the reaction of the people of the city to her departure.

From the mass of mail pouring into the Chandigarh Newsline office on the subject and also the popular perception, it is apparent that the majority of the people in the city wanted her with all her quot;faultsquot;, including the ones listed here. This includes most teenagers, on whom she placed restrictions, such as the watch on discotheques which had no legal sanction. What made her tick in a city where the awareness level is so high?

One reason could be the general disillusionment of the people with the so-called quot;system8217;, which the elite have perpetuated and which Bedi questioned. Her basic strength was her ability to break free of the typical bureaucratic mold and relate directly to people. She often did this without caring for the ruling elite. It is this approach which made people like her despite the police towing away their wrongly parked vehicles etc. Her iron-handed approach was acceptable because people knew that she would be unsparing even to the VIPs. While dealing with her force, she was stern but caring, which endeared her to her men in uniform. Moreover, despite the name and the fame she was not vindictive, a characteristic most people with power and clout acquire sooner than later.

But now with Bedi gone back to Delhi, the city is gradually returning to quot;normalcyquot;. Since there is a new bureaucratic structure, one hopes there will be a new administrative thrust in the city. There are many areas which call for immediate attention. During the past few years, the Administration did little to prevent the sprawl of the city and its environs. Even if no final political resolution to the city8217;s future is forthcoming, it is time for the city administration to have a detailed discussion with the governments of Punjab and Haryana to fix certain norms for the development in and around the city. Since the Punjab Governor is also the city administrator, this interaction should not be difficult.