Justice B Chandra Kumar of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh said ‘honest intellectuals’ and ‘purposeful persons’ who could influence society and help steer the nation in the right direction needed.
Recalling the sincerity and no-compromise-on-values attitude of officers in the Civil Services, even in the face of trying situations, he said they played a key role.
Broader perspectiveThey had a broader perspective of the world and tried to ferret out the truth following their instincts, he said. Decision-making at higher levels of the bureaucracy was influenced by several factors that necessitated the use of brains without being influenced by prejudice, he stated.
Releasing ‘Ethics in Governance - Resolution of Dilemmas’, written by former Indian Administrative Service officer Mohan Kanda, he pointed out examples of situations where honest officers faced challenges and appreciated them for not buckling under pressure and maintaining their stature.
From a young age, children should be taught the importance of values and parents and teachers were responsible for guiding them in their formative years, being role models, Mr. Chandra Kumar said.
‘Ultimate bosses’Giving glimpses of the content in his book, Mr. Mohan Kanda said with ethics not being a static subject, he had focussed on typical, everyday problems faced by the administration.
The book was written on the perspective and premise that people were the ‘ultimate bosses’, he said.
Former IAS officer M. Gopala Krishna described governance as ‘stewardship’ that should set the direction and also fix the speed.
He termed the book as timely and said it responded to the needs of a democracy like India with challenges that included corruption, crime, communalism and casteism.
