THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand has criticized the joint secretary lateral entry decision, wondering whether an expert joining government with specific domain expertise would also have the requisite administrative skill and governance experience of regular civil servants. Mr Vijayanand, who has had a long stint as the Union Panchayat Secretary, said there was already a provision in Government to engage a consultant with domain knowledge on contract basis. But the latest move, though claimed to infuse talent and professionalism, questions the role of the civil services in negotiating through the thicket of governance hurdles and implements policy decisions.
By the time a civil servant reaches the level of a joint secretary, s/he would have acquired skills and administrative experience to maneuver the system. How can this be expected of a lateral entrant? This mode of recruitment lends itself to subjectivity unlike the time-tested process of selection carried out by the Union Public Service Commission. The recruit's political affiliations could be a factor for selection. The appointment for a short tenure also undermines the independence of the Indian Administrative Service as the incumbent would be obliged to please the boss for sheer survival. This militates against core values of the civil services. Lateral entry might create more "yes men", who would be susceptible to the wrong use of authority.
Another major setback would be the bypassing 50 per cent reservation for SC/STs and OBCs as the new thrust is on meritocracy. The so-called shift to merit runs counter to the concept of social justice. Civil servants are well-trained and self-trained during their career in different arms of government that that Indian Civil Services are rated better than most other sectors, with the sole exception of the judiciary.
