|
Importance of Civil Services |
|
Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar said… “It is recognized that in
every country there are certain posts in its
administrative set up which might be called strategic
from the point of view of maintaining the standard of
administration… There can be no doubt that the
standard of administration depends upon the caliber of
the Civil Servants who are appointed to these posts…
The constitution provides that, there shall be an
All-India Service, the members of which alone can be
appointed to these strategic posts throughout the
Union.”
Protection in job
Thus, the main objective is to secure for the
Civil Service, young talented men who have received
the best, the most finished education. The scheme of
competitive examination is made accordingly to embrace
the subjects which are taught in colleges and
Universities of India. Through competitive
examinations the candidates are impartially admitted
on the basis of their qualifications. No Civil Servant
is dismissed or reduced in rank unless he or she has
given reasonable opportunity of showing cause against
the action proposed to be taken in regard to him/ her
unless he/she has been convicted of a criminal offence
or was given reasonable opportunity to defend himself. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Common Selection Process
|
 |
|
The
constitution of India has made special propositions
for the Public Service in India. According to Article
315, there shall be a Public Service Commission for
the Union and a Public Service Commission for each
State. There are Central Services to administer Union
subjects like defence, Income tax, Customs, Posts and
Telegraphs, railways etc. Similarly, the states have
their own separate and independent services to
administer state subjects like land revenue,
agriculture, education, health etc. The most important
feature of the Civil Service System is the creation of
certain services common to both the Union and States. |
|
|
These services are composed of officers who are in the exclusive
employ of either the Centre or the State and may at any time be at
the disposal of either. These services are recruited on an All
India basis with common qualifications and uniform scales of pay
and common standard of rights. The cohesive aspect of such
services is to ensure the uniformity of the administrative system
throughout the country.
It is intended to serve all the purposes except providing officers
for the judiciary. Thus, this service is a kind of an omnibus
service, and its officers are liable for posting in almost any
branch of administration. On appointment, the officers are posted
to different State cadres, and they carry this nomenclature with
them throughout their services. This ensures that the Union
Government has at its disposal the services of officers with
first-hand knowledge and experience of conditions in the States,
while the State Governments have the advantage of their officers
being familiar with the policies and programmes of the Union
Government. Such an arrangement works for the mutual benefit of
both the Governments. |
|
|
 |
|
Some of
the bureaucrats enjoy privileged positions and misuse
their authority and power. This results in a definite
setback to aspirants with better potentials. Heredity
and environment play an equal and important role apart
from formal education for proving the ability for the
Civil Services. Article 320 of the Constitution of
India provides that it shall be the duty of the Union
Public Service Commission and the State Public Service
Commission to conduct examinations for appointments to
the services of the Union and the States. Moreover,
Article 16(4) provides that nothing shall prevent the
State from making any provisions for the reservation
of appointments or posts in favour of any backward
class of citizens which, in the opinion of the state,
is not adequately represented in the services under
the State. |
|
|
Here, we should remember that equal opportunity is proclaimed to
all religions, creeds and castes. Queen Victoria made the
proclamation in 1858 to remove the grievances of the Indians :”It
is our further will that, so far as may be our subjects, of
whatever race or creed, be freely and impartially admitted to
office in our service, the duties of which they may be qualified
by their education, policy and integrity duly to discharge”. In
the Charter Act of 1733, all higher Civil appointments were for
the members of the Civil Service. The Charter Act 1793, put the
reforms of Lord Cornwallis on a permanent footing. He reserved all
the superior jobs for Englishmen only. |
|
|
|
Sir Charles Aitchison Commission was
appointed in 1886 to devise and to do full justice to the claims
of the natives of India to higher and more extensive employment in
the Public Service. In view of this, in August 1917, Montagne, the
Secretary of State for India, declared in the House of Commons (U.K),
that the Policy of his Majesty's Government towards India was that
of increasing association of Indians in every branch of
administration. We find its impact in the Lee Commission (1923)
where in there is a recommendation of an increasing percentage of
Indians in the Civil Services. It also recommended an increase in
the emoluments and privileges of the members of the Civil
Services. The Lee Commission also recommended that a Public
Service Commission be established. |
|
|
|
Public Service Commission |
|
The
first Public Service Commission was set up on Oct.
1st, 1926. Indianisation of the top services was the
main demand of the political movement of the Indians.
Later on, a Federal Public Service Commissions at the
Provincial Level. An autonomous status under the
Constitution of India (1950) was accorded to it and
given the name “Union Public Service Commission”. The
Union Public Service Commission was established under
Article 315 of the Constitution of India. According to
Article 315, there shall be a Public Service
Commission for the Union and one for each State. |
|
 |
|
Article 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322 & 323 specify the
functions, rights, duties and the framework of the Public Service
Commission. Article 335 provides that the claims of the members of
the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes shall be taken into
consideration consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of
administration, in the making of appointments to the services in
connection with the affairs of the Union or the State. As per the
provisions of Article 323, the Union Public Service Commission has
to present a report to the President of India. The same is the
case with State Public Service Commission which has to submit an
annual report to the Governor. |
|
|
Examination Process |
 |
|
The
Public Service Commission usually conducts the
Examinations for recruitment to the civil Services,
Engineering, Medical and Forest Service etc.
Recruitment of Civil Servants i.e. I.A.S., I.P.S.,
I.F.S. etc is conducted broadly according to the
following methods:
a) Preliminary Examination (Objective Type
Test)
b) Main Examination (Descriptive Type Test)
c) Interview |
|
|
The All India Services Act, 1951 and the Rules and Regulations
framed thereunder regulate the recruitment and conditions of
service in respect of the Civil Services viz. Indian
Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Foreign
Service. The relevant Rules and Regulations provide that 33% of
the vacancies in the Civil Services are filled by promotion from
amongst the officers of the State Service in consultation with
the Commission. |
|
|
|
What the Critics say |
|
Critics point out that the present system of
recruitment encourages stereotyped examinations to
be conducted by the Universities and Private
Institutes. It stressed on rote memory rather than
creativity. It is true that there is too much scope
for corruption and favouritism in the interview. The
much required talent and commitment is lacking.
Therefore, it is said that appointments are made on
the basis of competitive examination held by U.P.S.C.
or State Public Service Commissions but the methods
actually employed are highly doubtful. There is
practically no idealism among the selected
candidates. Their treatment towards the people is
callous. There is no proper pre-entry and post-entry
training. The Probation period is treated as a mere
formality. It implies the efficiency of the selected
candidates is not checked properly. Underhand
dealings are very common. It has also been observed
that in many cases there has been too much of
interference from the politicians. |
|
 |
|
The result is that the officers lose their sense of
responsibility. The high remuneration, authority, prestige and
status attached to this service inadvertently leads to arrogance
and snobbery. |
|
|
 |
|
In
terms of loyalty, sincerity and ability most of the
officers are sadly lacking. People are exploited by
them and there are many incidents of misdemeanour.
Moreover civil service officers enjoy all kinds of
favours, privileges and concessions. The
hierarchical system further adds to the misuse of
power and corruption. Lethargy has set in to such an
extent that despite having the requisite
qualifications, most of the officers are incompetent
to deal with the problems. Work is carried out as
per the rules and rules are followed blindly. Thus,
there is no room for adventure or experimentation. |
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion |
|
Notwithstanding what the critics say, a responsible
and responsive administration is a must. Let there
be any system, the administration of affairs
remains. A.D. Gorwala, remarks “The administration
of affairs would make a valuable contribution to the
cause of national unity. Each province would then in
its administration, present a replica of many of the
elements that contribute to the varied richness of
this ancient land”. It is true that the Civil
Service can bring about greater efficiency in the
administration of the centre as well as the States.
|
|
 |
|
Although the nature of bureaucracy is steel framed, one need not
despair. There are incidences of Civil Servants being expert in
their work, impartially selected, administratively competent,
politically neutral, motivated towards the social service and
beyond doubt harbour a feeling of national integrity. Therefore,
the Civil Services are rightly called the Wheels Of The
Government. The power is controlled by the bureaucrats but it
does not affect the freedom of individual. The Government's
administration can become responsible and responsive to the
people with the help of the civil services alone. |
|
|
By Prin. M.S. Kurhade
D.T.S.S. College of Commerce
Kurar, Malad (E), Mumbai 400 097 |
|
|
|
