Day 37 – Q 2.Why is impartiality an important attribute for a civil servant? Discuss.

2. Why is impartiality an important attribute for a civil servant? Discuss. 

एक सिविल सेवक के लिए निष्पक्षता एक महत्वपूर्ण विशेषता क्यों है? चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

Impartiality as a principle of justice prescribes to public servants that decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than on the basis of bias, prejudice, or preferring the benefit to one person over another for improper reasons, it is necessary for promoting equality in the society.

Body

Impartiality is to be seen in two contexts:

Public Impartiality: A public servant will serve as an instrument of government. Provide services without discriminating on the basis of caste, religion and gender. Give due regard to the diversity of the nation.

Political Impartiality: Principle of working without reservation and with devotion to the success of every government and its policies

Importance of Impartiality as an attribute for a civil servant:

Maintaining constitutional values:

• Impartiality lets a public servant uphold constitutionalism and rule of law.
• It prevents tendencies of cronyism, nepotism and factionalism. Thus it ensures productive use of limited resources.
• For eg, In case a leader puts pressure on a civil servant to favour somebody, impartiality will help her to take action which is ethical.

Work culture:

• The officers themselves enjoy high morale since they believe they will be rewarded for their merit and not for their political considerations. 
• It will, therefore, help in the efficient implementation of programmes. It will thus create a positive and conducive work culture

Efficient handling of situations:

• In case of riots, communal violence or any ethnic conflict, a civil servant with neutral attitude will be able to take the right action as she is free from any type of religious, political or social prejudices.
• To offer free and frank advice on policy matters using the powers of delegated legislation to ensure optimal utilisation of resources

Controlling corruption:

• It will keep oneself free from nepotism, political-corporate nexus and corruption

Professionalism:

• Provides professionalism and permanence as opposed to reluctance to change.

Conclusion

Present-day civil servants need to perform multiple functions of giving suggestions to political representatives, addressing public grievances, the institutionalisation of the socio-economic changes, delivering goods and services. Hence a value committed and impartial bureaucracy is need of the hour.