Removing chaff from the grain

No organisation can function effectively without having discipline. Let us imagine a situation in which a Brigadier on Indo-Pak border writes a letter to the Lt General casting aspersions on his integrity and competence and circulates the letter among all jawans guarding the borders. It is not difficult to gauge the confusion which can follow with disastrous consequences.

It is not that Bhatia was the first divisional commissioner to face difficulties because of delay in decision making at the government-level. In such situations, instead of taking a confrontationist attitude, the divisional commissioner must meet his superiors and colleagues and get the problem solved by personal approach with the authorities. Being a high-level functionary, his views usually carry weight. There are many instances where such approaches had succeeded and problems solved. It needs to be reckoned that there is a separate Department of Rehabilitation headed by a minister and secretary to government and it is bordering on arrogance to suggest that the whole department is totally oblivious to the interests of the state and the project-affected persons and only Arun Bhatia is serious about the issues involved.

Thousands of project-affected persons have been given houses sites and agricultural lands in Pune division and this was possible only because of the team work between various agencies involved with the divisional commissioner working as a leader of the team and also establishing healthy rapport between the field level organisations and the government departments. In government, as in other organisations, success depends upon ability to secure co-ordination and co-operation.

Regarding suspension of talathis, this is a process which continuously goes on. Many talathis, gram sevaks and other officers have been proceeded against in the past and punished for their wrong-doings by the various authorities such as divisional commissioners, district collectors and chief executive officers of zilla parishads. There is no need to give such actions for publication and attempt to convey an impression that this is the first time that such actions have been taken.

In the modern theory of management, it is motivation that works and not cracking of whip all the time. Eradication of corruption is no doubt very important, but that cannot be the only agenda. Development envisages releasing of human energy and this calls for efforts in many directions. Administration must not only be clean but also progressive.

As regards Bhatia8217;s transfer from the post of municipal commissioner, Pune, it is improper and highly objectionable if it has been done under pressure from any lobby either of hoteliers or of builders and deserves to be condemned. But it is also difficult to understand why Bhatia within just a few days of his taking over as municipal commissioner, launched a massive demolition drive as if thi was the only work of priority. This was probably Bhatia8217;s first assignment as municipal commissioner and rationality would demand that an officer after taking over would try to settle down by studying the nature of his new assignment, the tasks and priorities involved and would prepare a strategic plan of action from an overall perspective for successfully tackling the various challenges from both short term and long term point of view. An officer8217;s contribution should be judged from overall performance and not just in one department. Bhatia could demolish and recover arrears because his predecessors after following dueprocess of law, had brought cases to the final stages. But they did not go to press in a publicity drive.

The manner in which the case has been handled by the government is indeed most shocking and reprehensible. If government had been watchful and alert, the public agitation which has followed Bhatia8217;s second transfer could have been anticipated particularly because Bhatia had already drawn public acclaim for suspending talathis in large numbers on the ground of corruption and other irregularities. If the government was fully convinced that Bhatia had to be shifted from the post of municipal commissioner in public interest, it should have taken public into confidence by coming out with a detailed statement explaining why it had to resort to Bhatia8217;s transfer within short time.

In the absence of explanation, the government has been put into dock and citizens rightly feel convinced that Bhatia was transferred to protect the interests of certain lobbies. If the government is keen to refurbish damage to its reputation, it would be well advised to explain all the facts of the case to the public. The chief secretaries reply that it is the prerogative of the government to transfer officers can cut no ice. Prerogatives have to be used with fairness and equanimity and not in an ad hoc manner. Like Ceaser8217;s wife, government must not only be fair but also seem to be fair.

Peeping through the curtain behind the scene, this present controversy appears to me to be the result of personal animosities and ego-clashes 8212; not a healthy sign for public administration. Restraint conduct is the hallmark of maturity and this precisely has been the casualty in this unfortunate episode.