The way of all recommendations
Within the govt system,success rate in implementing recommendations of assorted commissions,committees and task forces is low.
All the matters related to electoral reforms or legislative issues are being addressed in a comprehensive manner in various other fora. Hence,it is decided that Govt. need not take any decision in this regard.
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission ARC was set up with a lot of fanfare in 2005. We will now finally get administrative reforms going,ensure accountability and transparency in pubic expenditure and improve governance. ARC has submitted 15 reports so far. The first is on right to information,the second on human capital NREGA,third on crisis management,fourth on ethics in governance and the fifth on local governance.
Within the government system,success rate in implementing recommendations of assorted commissions,committees and task forces is low. Just consider the 10-volume report of the Expenditure Reforms Commission ERC.
To get back to ARC,we now have government decisions on those five reports and the quote I have reproduced is from fourth report on ethics in governance. Its the government response to ARC recommendations on the reform of political funding. In this age of IT and copy-paste,it is also a response to recommendations on tightening of the anti-defection law,disqualification,coalition and ethics,appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner,grounds for disqualification of MPs/MLAs,enforcement of ethics in legislatures,office of profit and so on.
On these issues,one is then forced to deduce that ARC didnt understand its mandate and TOR and wasnt aware of all these other fora. The point is not that all recommendations of a commission need be accepted. Nor is this the place to go down each ARC recommendation item by item and discuss government reactions. However,the general impression one forms is of the central governments contentment with status quo and passing the buck to state governments.
This is especially true of the report on local governance. Existing provisions are adequate as only the central government can have a precise understanding of the intricate issues involved in decision making. Thats another quote,this time from a reaction to the recommendation that prior concurrence for registration of corruption cases should be given by CVC. There is much more in the same vein.
Since the central government alone can understand the intricate issues involved in decision-making,why do we even bother to set up the ARC? In an approach paper,ARC stated,There is a need to restructure our political and governance institutions and rejuvenate our Republic. Otherwise,the growing cynicism and despair among large sections may shatter public confidence in democratic institutions.
True,but those who are cynical and despairing dont understand intricate issues.
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