Extensions in service are set back to those who are in line; defies the logical principle of expectation-VP

Delivering the inaugural address at the 25th National Conference of Chairpersons of All State Public Service Commission at Bengaluru in Karnataka today, he stressed that, “It is with utmost restraint I am reflecting on an aspect. Public service commissions, the appointment cannot be driven by patronage, by favoritism. There are trends that are visible. I do not wish to reflect on them, but some of them are very painful. We must account ourselves to our conscience. We cannot have a public service commission Chairman or a member, wedded to a particular ideology or an individual. That will be undoing the essence and spirit of the framework of the constitution.”

Drawing attention towards post-retirement assignments, Shri Dhankhar said, “ Post-retirement recruitment is a problem. In some states it has been structured. Employees never retire, particularly those in the premium services. They get number of ad-hoc nomenclatures. This is not good.  Everyone in the country must have due and that due is defined by law. ……Any largesse of this kind is antithetical to what was visualised by framers of the Constitution.”

Expressing his concern over paper leaks, Shri Dhankhar said that, “This is a menace. You have to curb. Your fairness of selection will have no meaning if paper leakages are there. And paper leakage has become an industry, a commerce. People, young boys and girls used to have fear of examinations. How difficult the question will be. How will we address it? Now they are having two fears. One is fear of examination. Second, fear of leakage. So when they are giving their very best for several months and weeks to prepare for an examination, and they receive the setback of leakage.

Highlighting the divisive and polarized nature of polity, the Vice-President said, “our polity at the moment is too divisive, too polarised. Interaction is not taking place at the premium level in political organizations. When it comes to nation, when the world is in a transformative phase, it is India’s century. That century can be fully fructified for people’s gain only when we have calm political atmosphere…..We need political fire extinguishers. A political divisiveness, a vitiated political climate is far more dangerous than the climate change means we are facing.”

“Harmony in polity is not just wishful thinking, a desirable facet. Harmony is imperative. If there is no harmony in polity, if the polity is polarized, deeply divisive, with no communication channels functioning, imagine you are in an earthquake, you are lost and you have no connection with the outside world, things will be terrible for you”, he added.

Underlining the importance of strong institutions, Shri Dhankhar said that, “ Weakening of institutions. Any institution, if it is weakened, the damage is to the entire nation. Weakening an institution is like prick on the body. The entire body will be in pain. I would therefore urge, we must have strengthening of institutions. States and Union must work in tandem. They must be in synergetic mode. They must be in sync with one another when it comes to national interest”.

Emphasising on the need to solve the issues faced by the nation through dialogue and discussion instead of ignoring them, Shri Dhankhar stated, “ We are a country where there is bound to be governance of different ideologies and why not? That is inclusivity manifestation in our society. I therefore urge from this platform that all those who are in the seat of governance, at all levels, must enhance dialogue, must believe in consensus, must always be ready for deliberation. The problems the nation is facing should not be relegated to the background. We cannot afford any longer to have problems on the back burner. No. These will have to be addressed at the earliest … .I urge senior leadership for all political parties to create an ecosystem and climate that can generate dialogue, discussion, formal, informal. Consensual approach, discussion is deeply rooted in our civilizational ethos. This is a message we give to the world. Time for us to follow this message for ourselves.” 

Speaking about the role of intellectuals in society, he stated, “Intellectuals are supposed to guide us. Intellectuals are supposed to be fire extinguishers when there is social disharmony, when there is a problem. I find intellectuals are formed into groups. They sign representations they may not have read. They think signing representation is a password for getting a position, if a particular dispensation comes to power. Now look at intellectuals, former bureaucrats, former diplomats. You earned a level of public service, which others must emulate. You must be objective in making representations. You cannot create a group to subserve your interest with change of political alignments.”

Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Smt. Preeti Sudan, Chairman, UPSC, Shri Alok Verma, Chairman, Haryana Public Service Commission, Shri Shivashankarappa S. Sahukar, Chairman, Karnataka Public Service Commission and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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JK/RC/SM