Originally posted on 22 Nov 2011 :

Scams have become as common as bank robberies a few decades ago. We are beginning to get used to them. The only difference is in the magnitude of the money involved. The latest figure is so mind boggling that most  of us are not even able to comprehend the kind of impact it will have on our economy.

A minister has lost his job, and for the PM it is a test of his statesmanship. The coalition party to which Mr A Raja belongs may also feel the heat. The question is, “What will happen to the ‘babus’ who handled the files?” And the present perception is that NOTHING will happen to them. They will keep earning their well deserved 3% increments and also be promoted to positions of higher responsibility. This is because they have passed an examination at the time of their entry which is an antidote to all that ails the ordinary citizens. A friend of mine, Mr Aridaman Jit Singh says, the full form of IAS is, “Immune Administrative Service”

A few months ago, I wrote a piece on this subject entitled, “Firing from another person’s shoulder” which is relevant, and, therefore, placed below.

With best wishes,

Surjit

FIRING FROM ANOTHER PERSON’S SHOULDER!

Last week Maj Gen RK Joshi called on me. He was our instructor during our Degree Course days, and EME officers would remember him as one of our most highly qualified engineers. Consequently, he spent most of his time with the DRDO. He was commissioned in Jun 1960 and was in the Eastern sector during the 1962 debacle. He has analyzed the event very systematically, and his study reveals the following:

Pt Nehru, the architect of modern India suffered a severe stroke of depression from which he never quite recovered. He died in May 1964 at the age of 73.

VK Krishna Menon was removed from the post of Raksha Mantri for his incorrect assessment of the situation.

Gen Thapar, the COAS was sacked. The careers of Lt Gen Kaul and scores of other military officers took a “U” turn.

A few thousand soldiers died; many more were wounded and some were taken prisoners.

The psyche of the country received a severe blow. It was considered a ‘National Shame’

The question he asked me was, “Who was the Defence Secretary? And what was the punishment meted out to him?” I have asked several friends and also surfed the Internet but I am unable to find an answer. In all probability nothing was done to him, because he had no role in this!

Gen Joshi then took this discussion a step further. He observed that during the recent attack on Mumbai, dozens of soldiers and policemen have been killed. The whole nation is shaken. Mr. Shivraj Patil has lost his prestigious job. The CM of Maharashtra has been axed and several heads in the government are likely to roll. Can someone tell us as to what action has been taken against the Union Home Secretary or the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra? (Thomas tells me that they will all be “promoted” soon though he does not know why).

Having spent many years in and around the South Block, I marvel at the way our government has been structured. The Civil Servants rule the roost. In terms of promotions and status they are ahead of everyone else bymiles. They are central in the Pay Commission and the Cabinet Secretary is involved in every major decision making process. Yet, when things go wrong,they wash their hands off so clean that one wonders how!

A slightly closer examination reveals the secret. I have figured it out this way:

They never do anything themselves. They always find someone else to be the head, and they know how to reduce him to be a ‘figure head’. (In the Pay Commissions, they have a retired Judge). However they place themselves in a spot which has the maximum opportunity to influence matters.

After the event, they never face the Press or the Media. Their role is amorphous.

The senior amongst them rarely sign a letter or order. Our pension letter is signed by a Director, who is not directly recruited IAS officer. Only rarely do you find a paper signed by a Joint Secretary. Officers above that level rarely sign any document.

They have a strong association. It protects the interests of its members dutifully and diligently.

So we have our Defence headquarters in which the postings, promotions, rewards and punishments of all senior officers are controlled by the civil servants; and they also have the final say in the process of procurement of weapons and eqpt, but they are not “responsible” if things go wrong! It is authority without responsibility. (For those who may not know, a lowly officer in the MoD can have a Deputy Chief posted out, but a Service Chief cannot get even a Desk Officer moved)

When Gen Joshi left, I found myself perplexed. What sort of system have we evolved? And how has it survived all these years? It is a bit like a unit in which the clerks are running the unit and the CO isso dependent on the Head Clerk that he cannot move without their help! Can someone give a cogent answer to the questions raised by Gen Joshi?

A Tailpiece Politicians wear the dress of the people they represent, to identify themselves with the masses. Soldiers and policemen wear uniforms. Can someone tell what the Civil Servants wear? The answer came from the wag who said, “Civil servants wear thick skins”.