Atlas shrugged

"Why can't IAS officers stand upto the politician ?" I forget how many times this question has been put to me, mostly by journalists, but also by businessmen/women, venerable judges, friends and scientists.

I for one have never spare a single opportunity to point out ills of our systems whenever I encounter one. In fact, i have recorded my views in my two books, if anyone cares to read them. Whenever I do so, if the issue is important enough, I request my journalist friends to carry my views in their newspapers ( I do not know anyone in the TV world - not that any sensible person watches tv news anymore. ). My request is never honoured. One senior journalist was frank enough to tell me the reason - the management/editor will not approve your views to be printed in the paper. Why they not stand upto their editors? I write only facts and the truth. As I have narrated earlier, during one election i found a very senior journalist covering election meetings in a car provided by the Chief Minister. Then you expect him to stand up to that Chief Minister? In the same magazine, a journalist had written about some hanky-panky by a controversial but influential officer. He got a message from the editor to not repeat that mistake. Shortly he was eased out. I have met only one Rambo journalist, namely Arun Shourie. We all know about how he stood upto Indira Gandhi during the emergency and what work he did in the Bofor's case, just to name a few. As my minister in disinvestment also i have seen him stand upto to his corrupt colleagues. I find no other example.

During my disinvestment days i saw the business world from very close quarters. Few cases will elaborate. One very young bright lawyer came with his boss ( Top 5 law firms ) for a discussion. I knew this boy to be of integrity. The boss tried to bullshit me with some wrong legal advise. I thought the junior would atleast point out that what i was saying was correct. He kept mum, though he appeared uneasy. Of course, i rejected his bosses suggestion. Meeting over, they left. Later, the boy comes to me and says " Sir, you were absolutely right but i cannot contradict my boss.". Why he could not stand upto his boss? When we were selling balance shares of a very big company, the CA firm was trying to hoodwink government by giving a low share price. I told him that this won't do. He says " Sir what to do? My partner says that the private partner has asked us not to cross a certain price. I told him " If the private partner is angry he would not give you future business but if i catch you acting smart government will give you a room in Tihar. Now you chose.". Worked. Always does. Why couldn't this mighty CA firm stand upto one businessman ?

Scientists. As Agriculture Secretary i have seen a DG, ICAR who used to succumb to every wrong request of some netas. Every other scientist kept silent. Those scientists who stood up, like Dr Swapan Dutta, a renowned geneticist, suffered. Even after he was recommended for a very important position by the highest authorities, he was denied the job.

About judges, whatever i say may be construed as contempt. Therefore, I'll only mention the 4-1 verdict in the ADM Jabalpur case and the reasons and fallout of it.

And then there is other thing about diluting the service by allowing entry at advanced ages. By the time they come into the IAS, they have served in one or more places and become "worldly wise". Their number would be around 10 %. So this sizeable chunk is available to the leader to fill up all the key positions. The balance 90 % are at the periphery of governance and hence no opportunity of conflict ever arises. Public does not see them ever.

So, we have one Arun Shourie, one Swapan Dutta. But we have Seshan, Lyngdoh, Sunder, EAS Sarma, Abhash Chatterjee, M N Buch, S V Bhave, V S Dubey, D Bandopadhya, S Ramasubramanium, R K Nair, V K Shunglu and hordes of others who stood upto politicians, and the younger generation of IAS officers, who are still doing so. It is impossible for 5000 IAS officers to carry the burden of all others. We are not descendents of Atlas. Unless everybody stands up to wrong doing this nation cannot be numero uno. And if even with an honest and patriotic Prime Minister we can't do it, then God help us all !

P K Basu IAS (R)

Former Secretary Agriculture, GoI

Former Member, Central Administrative Tribunal

Share some information on grant of HAG NFU

Yes , would request 'Whispers in the corridors' to share some information/whispers regarding issue of orders for grant of HAG NFU to 1988 Group A services. It is has been inordinately delayed by DoPT ? Is it a deliberate action.

V K Jain