Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

HOW NOT TO CRUCIFY HONEST OFFICERS ?


Not  curious  :  definitely  injurious  !

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Former Union Secretary , Shri Anil Swarup wrote an article in DNA ( 10 Dec ) , titled :



In the article , Shri Swarup writes :

 

·      The crisis actually is an outcome of this provision that does not exist in law anymore The provision stipulates that if a private party gets a benefit that is not in public interest, a civil servant could be held liable even if there was no evidence of quid pro quo or mala fide. 

·      Ironically, in some of the judgments, it has been clearly brought out that the charge of personal benefit has not been levelled against Harish Gupta; neither is there any evidence available to this effect.

·      Certain sets of “facts” and documents came before a committee that was chaired by Gupta.

     Some of the documents provided incorrect information. These errors were not
     apparent on the face of the record. The committee, accordingly, made
     recommendations.
     These recommendations were accepted at an “appropriate level”. This “appropriate
     level”, the decision-making authority, was privy to the same set of information that
     the committee headed by Gupta had


·      Was it practically possible to verify all the facts that came before the committee ? Won’t the administration come to a grinding halt if all Committees of the government start verifying the facts that come before them?


·      However, like any other segment of the society, civil service too has its share of those that prefer not to stick their necks out. Such developments will only induce many more of them to “ play safe ”.

·      The decision will impact decision- making. Officers will be averse to expressing their views on the files.

    This is already in evidence in a number of departments of the government.
    The consequences could be grievous.
    Governance is suffering and could become worse on account of the sense of insecurity
    that such developments convey.
    It is hoped the amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act will take care of
    recurrence of such developments.

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In my blog / email, [  Policy Paralysis : Can be Avoided  /  26  Aug  2016  ], I suggested  :

 

 

To encourage Officers and Ministers to take FAST decisions , Shri Narendra Modi must insist that they carefully " Record " on the files :


*  What are the " Options / Alternatives " available ( with advantage / disadvantage , of each )


* What info / data he wished was available for a better decision



* What different " views / opinions " were presented to him for consideration


* What " Data / Views " he would have obtained if he had more time


* Who all , the decision might offend


* What is the likely " Cost " of postponing that decision,



And finally a 
Declaration :


* " This decision is not likely to benefit any of my near relatives / friends , directly or immediately "



After all of this , if the decision appears to be " Wrong " in hindsight , it must be " forgiven " and treated as an honest error


To err is human  !


Speaking at the TRANSFORMING  INDIA lecture ( 26 Aug 2016 ) , Shri Modi said :


"  We cannot march through 21st century with 19th century administrative systems . It would involve transformation of governance and mindsets as well as transformative ideas


Further , it would require rapid transformation and not gradual evolution "


I am afraid , despite all of this motivation / exhortation , no officer would want to stick his neck out for fear of it getting chopped off !


Even a trapeze artist in a circus , needs a Safety Net before he can be motivated to jump !


My suggestion is that SAFETY  NET !


True , Sati Sita had to prove her innocence through fire !


But , in 2016 , no officer would want to go through the public humiliation of a media trial , till the courts prove him innocent !


For him , " No decision " cannot be faulted !

 

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12  Dec  2018

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs





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