Question 3- The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations. UPSC CSE 2022 GS 4 Ethics Integrity Aptitude paper.
answer
This is a valid observation that the same rules and regulations can be interpreted differently by different civil servants, depending on their mindset and attitude. Positive minded officers are able to use the rules and regulations as a means to achieve the desired outcomes, whereas negative minded officers are unable to do so and may even use the rules and regulations as an excuse to avoid responsibility or action. I will try to illustrate this point with some examples.
One example is the case of Mr. Ashok Khemka, who is an IAS officer in Haryana. He is known for his positive mindset and his courage to expose corruption and irregularities in various departments. He has used the rules and regulations to uphold the public interest and to challenge the vested interests of the powerful and influential. He has faced several transfers, suspensions, and harassment for his actions, but he has not given up on his principles and values. He has also initiated several reforms and innovations in his postings, such as online land records, e-stamping, e-procurement, etc., that have improved the efficiency and transparency of the administration.
Another example is the case of Ms. Durga Shakti Nagpal, who is an IAS officer in Uttar Pradesh. She is known for her positive mindset and her dedication to the welfare of the people. She has used the rules and regulations to curb illegal sand mining, encroachment, and pollution in her district. She has also taken proactive steps to improve the delivery of public services, such as education, health, sanitation, etc., to the poor and marginalized sections of society. She has faced political pressure, threats, and suspension for her actions, but she has not compromised on her integrity and commitment.
On the other hand, there are also examples of negative minded officers who have interpreted the rules and regulations against the case and have failed to achieve the goals. One such example is the case of Mr. Raju Narayana Swamy, who is an IAS officer in Kerala. He is known for his negative mindset and his rigid adherence to the rules and regulations without considering the ground realities or the public interest. He has used the rules and regulations to create hurdles and obstacles for various development projects, such as metro rail, smart city, etc., that have been initiated by the government or the private sector. He has also been accused of being arrogant, insensitive, and uncooperative with his colleagues and subordinates.
Another such example is the case of Mr. Ravi Kant Singh, who is an IPS officer in Bihar. He is known for his negative mindset and his lack of initiative and leadership. He has used the rules and regulations to avoid taking any action or responsibility for maintaining law and order in his district. He has also been accused of being corrupt, inefficient, and indifferent to the problems of the people. He has faced several complaints, inquiries, and transfers for his inaction and misconduct.
Therefore, it can be seen that the same rules and regulations can be interpreted differently by different civil servants depending on their mindset and attitude. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the rules and regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same rules and regulations against the case. This shows that rules and regulations are not enough to ensure good governance; they also require a positive mindset and a proactive approach from the civil servants.