Reacting to the delay over the creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) meant to bring about an effective coordination among the three (Army, Navy and Air) Services, the former Army Deputy Chief, Gen Satish Nambiar, is reported to have blamed the IAS, which he is said to have described as the “one service which is dispensable.”
His argument in support of this contention was that “While the armed forces, foreign service and many others are absolutely necessary for nation-building, this (IAS) is one without which the country would certainly not come to a standstill.”
Vice-Admiral A. K. Singh, former Coast Guard D-G, has also apparently expressed the view that there was no chance of the post being created until after the Defence Secretary is elevated to Cabinet Secretary rank so that he can lord it over the CDS, who will then become his principal military adviser.
It is true that the proposal is pending implementation for the last eight years, but it is not attributable to the machinations of the IAS alone (if there indeed be such).
VIEWS AWAITED
It was circulated to all the political parties for eliciting their opinion and, as the Defence Minister, Mr A. K. Antony told the conference of top commanders recently, but most of the political parties are still to respond with their suggestions on the issue.
Mr Antony disclosed that he had once again written to the political parties asking them to give their views to enable the Government to arrive at a consensus.
Be that as it may, the habit of picking on the IAS as the whipping boy dies hard among all other categories of government personnel and the public at large. The general belief is that the IAS is an all-powerful, invincible force, thwarting whatever is against its interests.
As one who has been in the Service for 35 years, I am happy to disabuse everyone’s mind of this impression. The members of the IAS have become much too self-serving, if not self-centred, to function as a rock-like formation.
Regardless of the above, the real question is the one that Gen Satish Nambiar has raised about its being a dispensable Service.
Is there any thing special or unique in the way the members of the IAS discharge their functions, that is beyond the ken of others appointed to the same positions from outside?
Only if the answer to this question is ‘yes’ can we say that the IAS is indispensable.
ASSUMPTIONS ERODED
Originally, the IAS was seen as a replica of the ICS, incorruptible, independent, public-spirited and result-oriented.
The expectation was that the contacts of the members of the Service with the people at the grassroots, their variegated experience and liberal educational background will help their capacity for analysing the pros and cons, and decision-making and implementation will benefit from their sound judgment, thoroughness and ability to present viable options in a way intelligible to the policymakers.
These assumptions have been considerably eroded in the last 60 years. There are many instances of non-IAS persons inducted into top echelons usually earmarked for the IAS distinguishing themselves by their high calibre and competence.
Further, the complexities and challenges of a democratic polity like India demand an egalitarian structure, doing away with a virtual caste-system operating in the form of various Services suffering from a sense of discrimination.
Appointment based on the result of a one-time competitive examination with no periodical weeding out of the incompetent induces smugness and militates against accountability.
In such a situation, there is certainly a need to revisit the rationale for the IAS.
B. S. RAGHAVAN
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/08/10/stories/2009081050250800.htm
His argument in support of this contention was that “While the armed forces, foreign service and many others are absolutely necessary for nation-building, this (IAS) is one without which the country would certainly not come to a standstill.”
Vice-Admiral A. K. Singh, former Coast Guard D-G, has also apparently expressed the view that there was no chance of the post being created until after the Defence Secretary is elevated to Cabinet Secretary rank so that he can lord it over the CDS, who will then become his principal military adviser.
It is true that the proposal is pending implementation for the last eight years, but it is not attributable to the machinations of the IAS alone (if there indeed be such).
VIEWS AWAITED
It was circulated to all the political parties for eliciting their opinion and, as the Defence Minister, Mr A. K. Antony told the conference of top commanders recently, but most of the political parties are still to respond with their suggestions on the issue.
Mr Antony disclosed that he had once again written to the political parties asking them to give their views to enable the Government to arrive at a consensus.
Be that as it may, the habit of picking on the IAS as the whipping boy dies hard among all other categories of government personnel and the public at large. The general belief is that the IAS is an all-powerful, invincible force, thwarting whatever is against its interests.
As one who has been in the Service for 35 years, I am happy to disabuse everyone’s mind of this impression. The members of the IAS have become much too self-serving, if not self-centred, to function as a rock-like formation.
Regardless of the above, the real question is the one that Gen Satish Nambiar has raised about its being a dispensable Service.
Is there any thing special or unique in the way the members of the IAS discharge their functions, that is beyond the ken of others appointed to the same positions from outside?
Only if the answer to this question is ‘yes’ can we say that the IAS is indispensable.
ASSUMPTIONS ERODED
Originally, the IAS was seen as a replica of the ICS, incorruptible, independent, public-spirited and result-oriented.
The expectation was that the contacts of the members of the Service with the people at the grassroots, their variegated experience and liberal educational background will help their capacity for analysing the pros and cons, and decision-making and implementation will benefit from their sound judgment, thoroughness and ability to present viable options in a way intelligible to the policymakers.
These assumptions have been considerably eroded in the last 60 years. There are many instances of non-IAS persons inducted into top echelons usually earmarked for the IAS distinguishing themselves by their high calibre and competence.
Further, the complexities and challenges of a democratic polity like India demand an egalitarian structure, doing away with a virtual caste-system operating in the form of various Services suffering from a sense of discrimination.
Appointment based on the result of a one-time competitive examination with no periodical weeding out of the incompetent induces smugness and militates against accountability.
In such a situation, there is certainly a need to revisit the rationale for the IAS.
B. S. RAGHAVAN
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/08/10/stories/2009081050250800.htm
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