UPSC Mains 2019 · GS IV · Q8 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

Honesty and uprightness are the hallmarks of a civil servant. Civil servants possessing these qualities are considered as the backbone of any strong organization. In line of duty, they take various decisions, at times some become bonafide mistakes. As long as such decisions are not taken intentionally and do not benefit personally, the officer cannot be said to be guilty. Though such decisions may, at times, lead to unforeseen adverse consequences in the long-term. In the recent past, a few instances have surfaced wherein civil servants have been implicated for bonafide mistakes. They have often been prosecuted and even imprisoned. These instances have greatly rattled the moral fibre of the civil servants.

  1. How does this trend affect the functioning of the civil services ? What measures can be taken to ensure that honest civil servants are not implicated for bonafide mistakes on their part ? Justify your answer.

हिन्दी में

ईमानदारी और सच्चाई एक सिविल सेवक के प्रमाणक हैं । इन गुणों से युक्त सिविल सेवक किसी भी सुदृढ़ संगठन के मेरुदंड माने जाते हैं । कर्त्तव्य निर्वहन के दौरान, वे विभिन्न निर्णय लेते हैं । कभी-कभी इनमें से कुछ निर्णय सद्भाविक भूल बन जाते हैं । जब तक ऐसे निर्णय जानबूझ कर नहीं लिए जाते हैं और व्यक्तिगत लाभ प्रदान नहीं करते, तब तक अधिकारी को दोषी नहीं कहा जा सकता है । यद्यपि कभी-कभी ऐसे निर्णयों के दीर्घावधि में अप्रत्याशित प्रतिकूल परिणाम उत्पन्न हो सकते हैं । अभी हाल में कुछ ऐसे उदाहरण सामने आए हैं जिन में सिविल सेवकों को सद्भाविक भूलों के लिए आलिप्त किया गया है । उन्हें अकसर अभियोजित और बंदित भी किया गया है । इन प्रकरणों के कारण सिविल सेवकों की नैतिक रचना को अत्यधिक क्षति पहुँची है ।

  1. यह प्रवृत्ति लोक सेवाओं के कार्य निष्पादन को किस तरह प्रभावित कर रही है ? यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कि ईमानदार सिविल सेवक सद्भाविक भूलों के लिए आलिप्त नहीं किए जाएं, क्या उपाय किए जा सकते हैं ? तर्कसंगत उत्तर दीजिए ।
Accountability and Ethical GovernanceDedication to Public Service

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “An honest civil servant should not be harassed by anybody or agency or institution while in service or after retirement. It would make the civil servants working in the system nervous, which would not be in the interest of the country". Comment.”

Manuj JindalAIR 53 · CSE 2016 · 177 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Motivation & autonomy are key to performance of civil servants. If they are harassed or intimidated, it will lead to poor outcomes for the country such as:

Body · points

  1. Engaging in corruption due to fear from harassers. This is against public good.

  2. Resigning by highly capable officers & shifting to other private jobs to avoid harassment. Often transfers are also requested.

  3. Demotivation at work leading to personal stress & burning-out which can lead to organisation decay.

  4. Poor culture at workplace.

Spill-over effect on subordinates who could also get negatively impacted. For example: Harassment & forcing by local vested interests often leads to civil servants asking for transfers.

Solutions:

  1. Separating direct political interference in civil services by adopting 2nd ARC Report recommendations.

→ These include longer & fixed tenures for civil servants & recording of all meetings with political leaders.

  1. An Act to prosecute threats that stop public servants from carrying out their duty should be implemented.

  2. Strong institutional support by police & law enforcement officials in catching the perpetrators of such acts.

Close · no separate close

None written.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper IV, Q8. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.