As former Patna DM and flood-scam accused Gautam Goswami runs circles around the government—his houses were raided today—the Centre is trying to clean the bureaucratic stable. It’s drafted a new Bill for officers called the Indian Public Service Act. It will replace the one-page Civil Services Act—found largely ineffective—and lay down detailed ground rules for the bureaucracy. It also creates a legal framework for the development of a ‘‘politically neutral, impartial, efficient and effective’’ public service in the country. The key points in the draft Bill specify professional norms and also look at personal conduct. According to it, public service employees: • Shall not directly or indirectly have any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office. • Should declare a statement of assets, movable and immovable, of himself and family members on a regular basis • Disclose every cash transaction above Rs 25,000 to the government on account of purchase of shares, buildings or even jewellery • Not take up any private, or social, charitable work even if it is of an honorary nature or hold a position in even a sports federation • Report to the government if family is engaged in any trade or business, commission or insurance agency • Get government clearance for travel abroad even on personal trips • Not accept or solicit ‘‘gifts, gratuity, favour, loan’’ from domestic sources, including grants from any foreign agency or government Flood Money, His PropertyHe’s still on the run, his homes in Patna and Lucknow are raided on Saturday [Read Full story] • Not take part in elections unless they first resign from government service • Give or take dowry directly or indirectly from parents or guardians of a bride or bridegroom or enter into a marriage with a person having a living spouse • Not accept any complimentary or valedictory address offers without prior permission from the government • Declare all investments in stocks or shares, not speculate in the share market either directly or indirectly through family members. Currently, public servants are governed by Conduct Rules but these do not have any legal backing. It is this loophole that the government now plans to plug. The new Act will lay down all rules and procedures governing public servants and carry legal sanction. Speaking to The Sunday Express, Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi said: ‘‘For the first time, we will have legal backing for implementing these rules which is the important thing.’’ The matter was discussed at a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries after which the Ministry of Personnel is finalising the draft bill to be brought to Parliament shortly.
