NDA 'undermining' federal institutions

By Harish Khare

NEW DELHI, AUG. 3. On the evening of July 27, the top brass had gathered at the Prime Minister's residence. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee and his advisers were raking their brains on how to accommodate the DMK's demand that an example be made of those police officers who were involved in the unsavoury incident of June 30. The political leaders were not too eager to override the bureaucrats' advice to be cautious in giving in to the DMK's demand.

It was finally left to the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. I. D. Swamy, to blurt out what the senior Ministers had been unwilling to articulate: ``a decision has to be taken before the DMK's general council meets (on July 29).'' With the political calculation so crudely stated, the decision was virtually made. The services of the three IPS officers must be ``requisitioned'' by the Centre.

This, however, is not the first instance of the NDA Government jettisoning established rules and conventions about the IAS/IPS officers as per its political convenience. It has found it easier to give in to the demand of this or that alliance constituent rather than reinforce the conventions that preserve the non- political and professional character of the all-India services.

The very first instance was in 1998 when the Vajpayee Government gave in to the demands of the Samata-BJP combine from Bihar that no action be taken against the CBI Joint Director, Mr. U. N. Biswas. This officer was found guilty of having over- stepped his authority in enlisting the Army's help in arresting Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav in 1997.

In its very first month, the first NDA Government sent out a signal that it would protect ``committed bureaucrats'' like Mr. Biswas. Later, when the same Mr. Biswas reached the age of superannuation, specious arguments had to be devised to give him an extension. In other words, in the entire CBI (which is part of the Prime Minister's Ministerial empire) no officer, other than Mr. Biswas, could be deemed to have the requisite honesty, commitment and perseverance to bring the fodder scam guilty to the bar of justice. Message to the bureaucrat: cozy up to the political crowd and get your rewards.

The same consideration appeared to have worked when the Vajpayee Government decided to give an extension of service to the Cabinet Secretary, Mr. T. R. Prasad, even after he had reached the age of 60. A new argument was devised that a Cabinet Secretary should have a tenure of two years. (The same Government, at the same time, had given in to the bogus argument that while searching for a CBI Director, no one should be considered for the job who would have less than two years left before retirement).

Now the rules of the game were being revised in the third quarter of the match, to the advantage of an officer who had powerful political patrons. Again, the message to the entire officialdom: the good old days of Indira Gandhi and ``committed bureaucracy'' are back. What brings you rewards and career satisfaction is not your professional competence but the clout of your political godfathers.

Hardly had the bureaucracy deciphered the message, came the inexplicable decision to promote Mr. M. B. Kaushal, IPS officer, as Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, in total disregard to the single known convention. The only explanation for Mr. Kaushal's good fortune is stated to be that the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, simply could not refuse the officer's entreaties that he be allowed to retire as ``secretary.''

Postings, promotions, transfers and designations are personal favours that the new emperors can bestow on favoured bureaucrats and deny to those out of favour or without political godfathers. The new emperors are not going to be slowed down by considerations of morale, elan or etiquettes. The new rulers in Delhi are not prepared to be told that the IAS and IPS are all- India services, not a Central service. Institutions that have sustained the federal polity all these years are being suborned.

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Section  : National
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