The axe has fallen

An impression had entrenched in the polity is that Government employees are beyond accountability, that no Government employee can be touched at leave aside removed from service. This impression has gathered turf because very rarely any Government functionary has been removed, fined, demoted or punished in any way for charges of corruption, dereliction of duty,  or abuse of powers. Corruption, abuse of power and arrogance of power have became part of culture with various strata of bureaucratic structure. Ironically those who are expected to enforce rule of law have become the first violators of the law.
We have had many social movements big and small in this country purporting to carry out fight against corruption and maladministration. These movements have generally met with failure. The real cause of this failure is that those who are invested with power and authority have not been able to stay clear of tainted reputation. If the higher ups are honest, incorruptible and duty bound, it will have its impact on the functionaries at lower ranks. Therefore the first and most crucial condition of bringing about radical change in the corrupt system is that the higher echelons have to be honest and incorruptible.
63 Government functionaries have been sent home on forced retirement. The reason given by the Government is that they are dead wood. The removed ones include functionaries from various departments. There are high ranking officers as well as those at the lower rungs who have been shown the door. Some KAS officers, two Chief Engineers, Managing Director of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), an Additional Secretary, Director General Libraries and others also figure in the axed officials’ list. Their ouster has not been arbitrary. The Vigilance Organization had framed at least 29 cases after due investigation. Other agencies also conducted investigation and established cases against the functionaries. The Government had constituted a high power committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to examine the cases and recommend the action to be taken on them. It was on the basis of this recommendation of the high powered committee that the Chief Minister gave his nod to their forced retirement.
People will welcome the harsh step taken by the government. There was recurring demand from the public that there should be accountability of public servants. The Government was also committed to making the administration accountable. In the meanwhile, the Government functionaries on whom the axe has fallen had ample opportunities to mend their ways if they liked and come clean of charges against them. The Government has adhered to the rules and regulations in examining their cases and handing them the judgment.
The Government spokesman who also happens to be the Minister of Education has indicated that the process of accountability has just begun and it will continue. Naturally, this is a clear warning to the entire administrative community that accountability is there and the law does come down with a heavy hand. This is a welcome step and what is more, the Government has taken all precautions to ensure that no injustice is done to an innocent functionary and all provisions of law have been adhered to. In that sense, the PDP led coalition Government will take the credit of taking a very bold and decisive step in practically, and not only theoretically, taking up the challenge of corruption and maladministration. It must serve as a deterrent to the entire administrative community.
A few comments that have been brought forth by some quarters need to be stated here. Firstly, it is said that officers of IAS, IPS, IFS and such other higher ranks have been spared the axe although there are charges against them including some whose cases are before the court of law. It is true that many top ranking functionaries have been axed, but why should the tainted officers of higher services escape the noose. Although we appreciate that unlike previous Governments the present Government has not restricted punitive punishment to officials of lower ranks like patwaris and linemen, yet highest cadres of civil servants should not escape the net. The second observation made is that particularly in police department, the highest rank that has fallen in the trap is that of an Inspector. The people believe that there is large scale corruption in police department and no higher ranks have been brought under the radar. This leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
These observations notwithstanding, it is seen that the axe has fallen not only in any single department or branch but to many departments where cases were pending against the defaulters.  PDP-BJP coalition government has the credit of introducing a reform in the administration squarely based on the formula of accountability.
In conclusion, we will say two things to the Government. First, it has taken a right and a bold decision and through right and legal means aimed at removing the deadwood from the administration. The second thing we would say is that the process of fighting corruption is a long one and does not end with one time exercise of enforcing accountability. The process should continue and continue with full force of efficacy so that in a short period of time we have the satisfactory results.

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