Yes, Minister

This refers to the editorial 8216;Civil aspirations8217;. India8217;s civil service symbolises not only the 8220;most valuable...

8226; This refers to the editorial 8216;Civil aspirations8217;. India8217;s civil service symbolises not only the 8220;most valuable8230; measure of social inclusiveness8221; but also the perceived social status arising from positional power. This is one more reason why it attracts so many aspirants despite its pay structure. However, the service has lost its aura due to constant political interference. Pleasing those in power is necessary for promotions. Those who oppose the system suffer humiliation, for which even the Constitution doesn8217;t provide remedy. So it is unlikely that the understanding of the political economy alone will raise the performance level of civil servants.

8212; Y.G. Chouksey

Pune

Time to reform

8226; While India8217;s over-emphasis on a civil service with colonial origins is partly responsible for the state of the Indian Administrative Service, the apathy of successive Union governments in reforming the civil services is no less regrettable. Politicians don8217;t want to rejuvenate the civil services because they need bureaucrats to implement their dictates and perpetually dance to their tune. No wonder, the IAS officer continues to be a jack of all trades and master of none.

After the Sixth Pay Commission8217;s recommendations for the IAS, members of other all-India services lamented the commission8217;s step-motherly attitude towards them. India must adopt the 8220;position classification8221; system for categorising our services as in the United States and Japan, wherein pay and incentives depend on the post, and bid adieu to the system of 8220;rank classification8221; inherited from Britain.

8212; Hemant Kumar

Ambala

Right to life

8226; Shishir Gupta8217;s article 8216;To catch a terrorist8217; drives home the point that a federal agency is a double-edged sword. While it may serve the purpose of investigating terrorist attacks, there is a genuine fear that it might be used as a controlling tool by the Central government. But lives must take precedence over political bickerings.

If the possibility of a stronger federal government prevents the establishment of an agency devoted to tackling terrorism across states, the Constitution8217;s guarantee of the right to life will no longer exist.

8212; Rav Pratap Singh

Chandigarh

Allies like these

8226; The Congress is still uncertain what stance it ought to take on an electoral understanding with the Samajwadi Party. It must, however, keep in mind that the Samajwadi Party would be more demanding than its present allies. The allies will in fact let the Congress manage itself, not in its interest, but in their own.

8212; Kedarnath R. Aiyar

Mumbai