IAS and IPS should never lose their spine
When an efficient bureaucrat forgets his own judgment and only tries to fulfil the wishes of ministers, he fails to do justice to his post. This “yes-sir” attitude may keep him in the good books of the rulers. He may even get his preferred postings. But he strays from his primary duty, to follow the Constitution. It is time for the officers of IAS and IPS cadres of West Bengal to face the truth about themselves.
On the other hand, if officers oppose ministers unnecessarily and let their ego block every work, that is also undesirable. It obstructs development. When either behavior becomes excessive, the public suffers. The conflict between submissive bureaucrats and strong-willed bureaucrats has existed for decades.
The unending conflict of IAS and IPS
This conflict of IAS and IPS continues not only in West Bengal but across India. Many times, the rulers pressure officials to carry out unconstitutional or illegal actions for electoral gain or appeasement politics.
They may want to launch new schemes without thinking about the state’s treasury or future. An ideal bureaucrat must give the correct advice to the government in such moments. Whether the government listens to their advices, that is secondary.
Similarly, if an IPS officer enforces the law based on party colors, the state slips into chaos. Law and order completely collapse. Ultimately, anarchy takes over. And once again, the public suffers.
Today many accusations surface against Gyanesh Kumar because he worked directly under Amit Shah.
Let’s keep aside all other controversies and the debate about whether adding the word “special” before “intensive revision” is constitutional.
Appalling Conditions of West Bengal
But in West Bengal today, almost everyone, from top bureaucrats to the lowest-rank police, has virtually become obedient servants of the rulers. As a result, we see that from constables to OC on one side, and from DM to SP on the other, almost everyone is scared to take action even when complaints come. They wait for a phone call.
There are also internal groupings within the system. And, of course, there is the issue of granting special privileges to minorities. As a result, the state of West Bengal has reached an unbearable situation today where IAS and IPS have become scapegoat. The situation has become so appalling that if Mamata Banerjee asks them to bend, they will start crawling.
Bureaucrats remain silent because they crave prized postings. We fail to understand that the high officials are capable enough to understand that the rulers may offer them some benefits, but they will demand a quid pro quo.
Even an efficient officer like Manoj Pant is facing strange situations now. Recently, due to a simple dispute with the Election Commission, he had to appear before a summons in Delhi. Did he really act on his own will?
A Kolkata Police Commissioner became a laughingstock when junior doctors “gifted” him a spine. Vineet Kumar Goyal is not inexperienced at all.
Even the OC of Tala Police Station had to get arrested. He was surely not the only one guilty. He must have committed that wrongdoing on orders from higher rung.
Courts have often rebuked the police in multiple cases. Yet no officer or OC shows the courage to speak against the ruling party. We even saw a Police Commissioner distributing offerings at the Chief Minister’s residence.
Time for Introspection
It is shocking to think how they show their faces to their wives and daughters at night. What do they feel when they stand in front of the mirror?
Many of them are highly educated and reached this level by clearing national-level exams with merit. But once they mortgage their spine, they are to swallow anything. They also crave high posts even after retirement. Perhaps the Government plans to ringfence some funds from the budget for them.
As a result, ordinary people suffer and gasp for relief.
