Former Bureaucrats Accuse Modi Government of Deliberately Altering Civil Services' Essence

Former civil servants, as members of the Constitutional Conduct Group, have expressed concerns about the current government's actions in an open letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu. According to the letter, the Union government is actively engaging in efforts to influence civil servants to display unwavering loyalty solely to the central government.

A group of more than 80 former civil servants have jointly written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, expressing their concerns about the current BJP-led Union government. In the letter, they highlight the perceived efforts being made by the government to alter the fundamental nature of the civil services and exert pressure on civil servants to demonstrate unwavering loyalty exclusively towards the Union government.

In their capacity as members of the Constitutional Conduct Group, former civil servants have emphasized the original purpose of the civil services. They have stated that the civil services were designed to serve as a safeguard for the constitution, immune to political fluctuations, and characterized by a national perspective rather than a narrow regional one. Furthermore, they were intended to maintain an independent and nonpartisan outlook without any biases or influence. However, the former officers have raised concerns about a systematic effort to transform the nature of the civil services, specifically targeting the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS).

What is said by the Officers in the letter? 

“It is in this context that we seek to approach you on a matter which, of late, is causing much concern to us and which we are duty bound to bring to your notice,” the open letter says.

According to the open letter penned by the signatories, the Union government is actively engaged in noticeable endeavors to exert pressure on civil servants. The aim is to ensure that these officers prioritize their loyalty towards the Union government rather than their respective state cadres, to which they are originally assigned. The letter further highlights that officers who have resisted such demands have faced arbitrary actions from their departments. Moreover, the Union government seeks to amend service regulations, allowing for compulsory central deputations without the consent of the officers or their respective state governments.As a result, this development has disrupted the delicate federal balance and has placed civil servants in a state of conflict, torn between competing allegiances. Ultimately, this situation has undermined their capacity to remain impartial in their duties.

“As the Constitutional Head of the Republic, we appeal to you to convey our concerns to the Union Government and caution them that this attempt to change the character of the civil services is fraught with extreme danger and, as Sardar Patel had warned many years ago, will spell the death of constitutional government in India,” the letter said. 

The letter highlighted that there is a push to amend service rules, which would enable the enforcement of central deputations without the consent of the officers or their respective state governments. This move has significant implications as it undermines the authority and control of chief ministers over their officers. Consequently, this action has disrupted the delicate federal balance and has placed civil servants in a predicament where they are torn between conflicting loyalties. The result is a weakened ability to maintain impartiality in their work, which is crucial for upholding the integrity of the civil services.

What are the previous amendments sought for civil services? 

In December 2021, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) introduced proposed amendments to the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, which were initially established in 1954. These changes aim to curtail the authority of states to reject the central government's request for officers to be assigned to central deputation. As part of the process, the DoPT invited feedback from the states and Union Territories regarding these proposed amendments.

The current regulations include a provision that allows for mutual consultation between the central government and the states regarding the deployment of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers on central deputation. It is important to note that a final decision on the proposed amendments has not been reached at this time.

The letter further mentions that previous governments have authorized lateral recruitment at senior levels, and several officers recruited through this process have demonstrated exceptional performance and capabilities.

In recent times, there has been a growing lack of transparency in the recruitment process for mid-level positions, giving rise to concerns that candidates are being selected based on their ideological preferences. The letter points out that the implications of such a trend for the future of an independent civil service are self-evident and require no further elaboration.

Notable personalities, including former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh, former UPSC member Parveen Talha, former IPS officer Maxwell Pereira, and former secretary of social justice and empowerment Anita Agnihotri, are among the 82 individuals who have signed the mentioned letter.