R.K. Raghavan's views on the Central Bureau of Investigation's attitude towards bureaucrats (“CBI would not hound honest officials,” Feb. 13) is a trifle biased. In any investigation involving a fraud, the investigating agency first goes after the bureaucrats, sparing the executive heads who give their approval.
Many such political frauds remain unresolved for years, for want of mental and moral courage on the part of CBI officials.
T.V. Balakrishnan,
Chennai
The former CBI director has failed to address some basic questions. While he refers to some pliant bureaucrats, he does not say why the CBI, which has investigated Ministers in various scams, allowed them to slip through the cracks over insignificant technicalities.
Even more disappointing is his assertion that it is very painful for the CBI to “... go after its colleagues ...” Are its colleagues in the administrative service holy cows who have to be dealt with reverence while the rest of us are open for a game? This only confirms our suspicions that it is with great reluctance that the CBI is investigating the mother of all corruptions — the babus and their political bosses.
Sudheer Marisetti,
Hyderabad
Every action of the CBI is in accordance with the law. An unlawful action can be challenged in court. Senior bureaucrats have to take responsibility for any illegal action carried out with their approval. Instead of bending backwards to please their political bosses, bureaucrats should bend before the law. That said, the CBI should demonstrate the same determination in taking action against politicians. While initiating cases against them takes a very long time, the conviction rate is very low.
S. Shankarprasath,
Chennai
The impression that senior bureaucrats are “intimidated” into giving in to the irregular demands of the political executive, I am sure, is not correct in a majority of cases. There is no doubt that there exists an unholy nexus between bureaucrats, looking for greener pastures, and politicians.
B. Harish,
New Delhi
Dr. Raghavan's article highlights the prisoner's dilemma faced by an honest officer working under a corrupt politician. But civil servants cannot shy away from taking responsibility for any arbitrary action by them, even under the direction of their political bosses. They do, after all, enjoy constitutional safeguards under Article 311. The simple mantra of the written word is the only means of survival for an honest civil servant.
Aman Mathur,
Delhi
