UP IAS Assn to discuss decision on lateral entry

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh IAS Association will meet soon to discuss the union government’s move to allow lateral entry in the bureaucracy and begin the process for appointment of 10 joint secretaries.

“The UP IAS Association will convene a meeting of its executive committee soon to discuss the issue,” said association secretary Alok Kumar.Although most senior IAS officers in service refuse to go on record on the iss ue, lateral entry into the bureaucracy remained a point of discussion among them here on Monday. “We have strong reservations about the union government’s move. We are not saying that there is no talent outside the government or all the government officers are very talented. But the way the government proposes to make appointments may be manipulated,” said a senior officer. Besides raising questions about the appointment process, the officers also point out that the move could adversely affect the steel frame. “No independent agency like the Union Public Service Commission is going to carry out the selection of 10 joint secretaries. There will be no examination and government has kept the powers of selection/ appointment to itself. This raises serious doubts and may lead to selection of favourites,” said another officer.Other points raised by officers include the decision to fix a three-year term for such appointments.

“Why will any genuinely talented person join the government for three years? There is a clause of three-month notice to remove such an appointee. How can an officer work in a forthright manner and advise boldly with such a provision?” asked the officer.

Other officers mention conflict of interest or the appointee serving the interest of the sector with which he/she has been working.

“Any such appointee may not be able to work independently or impartially. An appointee may work for some vested interests and may go back,” said another officer, adding “surprisingly the government has not come out with any reservation for these 10 posts.”Retired IAS officers have also opposed the move.

“I don’t think it’s a good move. Those in the private sector do not have experience of working in a variety of fields. Anybody having experience of selling toothpaste or working in a specific field cannot be useful to work as joint secretary with the centre. There is no point in bringing those having a narrow vision,” said former chief secretary Alok Ranjan.