Current Affairs-Supreme Court suggests sweeping reforms in functioning of Bureaucracy

Supreme Court suggests sweeping reforms in functioning of Bureaucracy

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre, States and Union Territories to issue directions for providing fixed tenure to civil servants.

The apex court also said Civil Services Board to be constituted at the Centre and State-levels. Suggesting sweeping reforms in the functioning of bureaucracy, a bench headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan said Parliament must enact a law to regulate postings, transfers and disciplinary action against bureaucrats. 

Holding that much of the deterioration in bureaucracy is because of political interference, it said that civil servants should not act on verbal orders given by political executives and all actions must be taken by them on the basis of written communication.

The bench also comprising justice P C Ghose said giving a fixed minimum tenure to a civil servant will not only promote professionalism and efficiency, but also good governance.

The apex court passed the verdict on a PIL filed by 83 retired bureaucrats including former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian seeking its directions for insulating bureaucracy from political interference.

The petitioners also include former Indian Ambassador to the US Abid Hussain, former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, former Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy, former IPS officer Ved Prakash Marwah, and former CBI directors Joginder Singh and D R Kaarthikeyan. Former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian said, this is a landmark judgement. Public servants are not private servants.

Former Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy lauded the verdict, saying Good governance is critical to good quality democracy.

The over 4,700-member strong Indian Administrative Service, IAS officers' association has welcomed the Supreme Court verdict saying it will help in ensuring good governance.

IAS officers' association secretary Sanjay R Bhoos Reddy said, it will help in good governance across the country. He said, it is necessary that the judgement not only gets implemented in letter but in spirit also. The association of Indian Forest Service also supported the apex court verdict.