The Hindu Business Line : Outsiders in high positions

RECENTLY some voices have been raised against the practice of posting as Governors and Chief Justices of States persons not belonging to those States.

It is said that because of the unfamiliarity of the appointees with the language and customs of the States to which they are posted, they are liable to miss out, for no fault of theirs, the full purport of whatever comes, or is brought, to their attention in the local language.

They are, perforce, to depend on English as a medium of oral and written communication. But, since the number of those who are well-versed in English is fast dwindling, the high-placed dignitaries as well as those approaching them feel uncomfortable in expressing themselves to their full satisfaction. On occasions, lack of precise understanding of what exactly is being conveyed may even lead to wrong decisions and souring of relations.

Thus, the whole interaction may leave both sides with a feeling of not being up to it, whether it is a matter of redressing some grievance or acting on some suggestion or proposal by Governors, or, in the case of Chief Justices, enabling them to follow in full measure the sense of, say, the witnesses' depositions or the counsel's arguments. On the other hand, appointing to the highest executive and judicial positions in the State persons hailing from the same State carries with it possibilities of missteps and embarrassments.

Actually, not merely in respect of Governors and Chief Justices of States, but in the case of all-India services also, especially IAS and IPS which come into close contact with all sections of the people, the rule is that at least half the vacancies should be filled by persons who are from outside the State.

They are thereby saved from becoming victims of pulls and pressures of relatives and friends for favours and intercession of one kind or another.

They are also able to escape from social obligations, which in their own States, press on them daily from places far and near taking a lot of time away from their official duties. Freed from these distractions, they are able to serve without fear or favour as they ought to.

In fact, as regards IAS and IPS, in people's perception, officers from outside the State usually are more effective.

All considered, there is no convincing case to disturb the present system.

B. S. Raghavan

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