Section-A (reading)
Q.N.-1. make note
A close look at the facts relating to political interference in administration shows that it is not a one-way
process. This is often a nexus between power hungry and corrupt politicians and civil servants with convenient
principles. Many civil servants are only too anxious to oblige the politicians, and then cash the obligation when
they need some special favour. So the attitude of self-righteousness adopted by the civil service is sometimes
only a way of covering their own flaws by blaming others.
Every now and then some retired civil servant comes out with his memoirs, painting a glorious picture
of the heights of administrative efficiency reached during his reign. There is often the suggestion that, had
there not been so much political interference, things would have been even more fantastic. It's not unusual for
the self-styled hero to blame not only interfering politician but also fellow civil servants, who are idiots, morons
or crooks, for his failures. The attitude of smug self-satisfaction is, unfortunately, developed during the years of
service. Self preservation rather than service is encouraged by our whole system of rules and procedures.
The remedy has to be drastic and quickly effective. The over-protection now granted to civil
servants must end. Today, to remove an erring civil servant is just not possible. And the only thing that the
highest authority in the government, both in the state and at the centre, can do is to transfer an official from
one job to another. The rule for taking disciplinary action are so complicated thot, in the end, the defaulting
civil servant gets away, and gets his full emoluments even for the period of the disciplinary proceedings, thus
making it a paid holiday for him. The result is that the administration has become rule-oriented and not result-
oriented. Action is possible against the official who takes some interest in his work, but no action is ever taken
against a person who does not deliver the goods. If the country is to adopt a result-oriented approach, it is
necessory to link job performance with job retention even in the civil services
Answers
Answer:
A close look at the facts relating to political interference in administration shows that it is not a one-way
process. This is often a nexus between power hungry and corrupt politicians and civil servants with convenient
principles. Many civil servants are only too anxious to oblige the politicians, and then cash the obligation when
they need some special favour. So the attitude of self-righteousness adopted by the civil service is sometimes
only a way of covering their own flaws by blaming others.
Every now and then some retired civil servant comes out with his memoirs, painting a glorious picture
of the heights of administrative efficiency reached during his reign. There is often the suggestion that, had
there not been so much political interference, things would have been even more fantastic. It's not unusual for
the self-styled hero to blame not only interfering politician but also fellow civil servants, who are idiots, morons
or crooks, for his failures. The attitude of smug self-satisfaction is, unfortunately, developed during the years of
service. Self preservation rather than service is encouraged by our whole system of rules and procedures.
The remedy has to be drastic and quickly effective. The over-protection now granted to civil
servants must end. Today, to remove an erring civil servant is just not possible. And the only thing that the
highest authority in the government, both in the state and at the centre, can do is to transfer an official from
one job to another. The rule for taking disciplinary action are so complicated thot, in the end, the defaulting
civil servant gets away, and gets his full emoluments even for the period of the disciplinary proceedings, thus
making it a paid holiday for him. The result is that the administration has become rule-oriented and not result-
oriented. Action is possible against the official who takes some interest in his work, but no action is ever taken
against a person who does not deliver the goods. If the country is to adopt a result-oriented approach, it is
necessory to link job performance with job retention even in the civil services