The draft bill outlining measures to minimise political interference in officialdom has been published for review.
The draft bill outlining measures to minimise political interference in officialdom has been published for review.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court order fixing tenure for senior police officers could not have been better timed for the mandarins in the government pushing for administrative reforms. The Department of Personnel and Training, headed by the prime minister himself, has drafted the Public Service Bill, 2006, to give protection to the bureaucrats from constant political interference and frequent transfers.
A senior official told DNA that the proposed bill, which will have far reaching implications on governance, intends to formulate norms and guidelines for transfers and postings, accountability of political masters while causing transfers, compensation to bureaucrats for harassment before the end of the term, selection process of DGPs and chief secretaries, protection of officials for action taken in good faith and protection to whistleblowers.
The draft bill has been posted on the DoPT official website to invite comments or suggestions from concerned quarters. An official said the bill should be pushed in the winter session of Parliament. The bill says that the norms and guidelines for transfers and postings should be notified so that there is continuity and predictability in career advancement and acquisition of the required skills and experience. “Provided that the normal tenure of public servants shall not be less than three years. Any transfer before the specified tenure is to be recorded in writing and the public servant should be compensated for the inconvenience and harassment caused due to such transfer before term,” the bill says.
The Babus have inserted a clause to protect themselves for “action taken in good faith”. “No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall be initiated against any person for anything, which is done in good faith under this Act.”
The most interesting part of the draft bill is an attempt to insulate itself in governing the service conditions of the officialdom from the politicians. It proposes to set up a central authority to aid and advice central government in matters concerning organisation, control, operation and management of public service and public servants. But the draft bill makes it clear in writing that the chairman and the three to five members of the said authority “shall not be an MP or MLA and shall not hold any other office connected with any political party and shall not hold any other office”.
Though there has always been discomfort on the politicisation of bureaucracy, this is for the first time that a government is coming forward to codify regulations to cut down political interference in administration.
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