Safeguarding the (Social) Guardians

TDP MLA of Denduluru Chintamaneni Prabhakar was in news for allegedly attacking the Musunur Tahsildar in Krishna district, Vanajakshi, while she was trying to stop the sand mafia. Jeremy Bentham, a political philosopher, viewed bureaucrats as the ‘Guardians’ of the society and the interests of the common people. If these guardians are not safeguarded, how can they perform their role as Social Guardians of the society? Governance requires on the part of the government to ensure ‘rule of law’ and ‘freedom from undue political interference in the bureaucracy’s functioning’

The recent allegedly attack on a Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) in Musunur mandal in Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh is a glaring example of growing nexus between politics and business. It is reported that the MRO who is performing duties in regulating the sand mining activities has been ill-treated by the staff of the local representative in connivance with sand mafia. It drew reaction from the Revenue Employees as they boycotted the duties and demanded action against the political representative.

This issue merits our attention as MRO is reported to have a record as hardworking and sincere officer. If so, occurrence of such incident sends wrong signals to the people and bureaucratic circles in the newly formed state of AP. What are the ramifications of this development? If ignored, people, may perceive – the state is incapable of protecting their interests as the bureaucrats are not given due protection from the politicians.

To that extent, the service delivery gets affected as the political pressure stifles bureaucracy. If this trend is not nipped in the bud, there is all the possibility that the politicians are encouraged to interfere in the working of the bureaucrats, thereby hampering the development activities being planned by the current government. Secondly, people may think that the government is incapable of curbing misappropriation of natural resources by the private people, leaving the public interest to mercy of the private players.

The incident also has a gender dimension as political interference may negatively impact the performance of the women officers. It proves to be a retrograde step in so far as women empowerment is concerned. In parliamentary democracy, political executive and the bureaucrats must work hand in hand to accomplish the goals of development. Good governance hinges on the effective public servants who are committed, dedicated and honest. Moreover, the bureaucrats are the bridge between the government and the people.

Thus policy-making and policy execution is interlinked; hence the situation needs to be improved to arrive at reconciliation between politicians and bureaucrats. The government should intervene at the earliest to narrow the chasm between the political executive and bureaucrats. It has been a year since the new state formed. There are miles to go to reconstruct the state in terms of its administrative apparatus and shaping the policies to attain good governance.

Take a glimpse from the history of undivided AP. Governance reforms were introduced in the united AP in the mid-90s under the leadership of current CM of AP, Chandrababu Naidu. Governance requires on the part of the government to ensure ‘rule of law’ and ‘freedom from undue political interference in the bureaucracy’s functioning’. In the absence of adherence to these principles, the Nava Nirmana Deeksha that was held in the last month by the Chief Minister remains a distant goal.

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its tenth Report- Refurbishing Personnel Administration emphasized the freedom for the bureaucrats from political excesses. Jeremy Bentham, a political philosopher, viewed bureaucrats as the ‘Guardians’ of the society and the interests of the common people. If these guardians are not safeguarded, how can they perform their role as Social Guardians of the society? Therefore, the situation warrants the speedy intervention of the government to take stern action against the offenders.

This will go long way in rectifying the damage done to the political executive and administrators. After all, it is the interest of the public that prevails over that of the private! Is CM listening? (The writer is a faculty in Department of Public Policy, Law and Governance, Central University of Rajasthan, can be reached at [email protected])

By C Jeevan Kumar