The Hindu : Front Page : Civil servants facing new challenges: Kumaraswamy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 05, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Civil servants facing new challenges: Kumaraswamy

Special Correspondent

PSCs told to work in coordination with governments

WARM HANDSHAKE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (right) greeting Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission Chairman M.S. Pandit in Bangalore on Saturday. Union Public Service Commission Chairman S.R. Hashim is seen. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Mu rthy

Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said that the civil services in the country are at crossroads in relation to the challenges they are facing in administration.

He was inaugurating the ninth national conference of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) here on Saturday. UPSC Chairman S.R. Hashim, KPSC Chairman H.N. Krishna and Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission Chairman M.S. Pandit spoke at length on improving governance by implementing the best practices in recruitment. Mr. Kumaraswamy called upon the chairmen of the PSCs to extend their stay in Bangalore by a day and share their knowledge with the Government here.

He said civil servants are facing challenge in relation to the demands that the administration has placed on their knowledge, skills and professionalism. Further, the State governments and the PSCs have to function in harmony to deal with human resource requirements and recruit meritorious candidates to departments that have an impact on the lives of common people, he added. The Chief Minister, who gave the lead for discussions at the two-day conference, said the State Government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the UPSC and the KPSC. Mr. Kumaraswamy said the new challenges encountered in governance today can only be faced by governments having a civil service comprising outstanding young men and women who are motivated to serve society.

Dr. Hashim said PSCs will have to go beyond their recruitment role. They should act as think tanks so that issues relating to civil services can be constantly debated. He said he has taken up with the State governments the need to consult the Chairman of the State PSC concerned before the appointment of new members or a revision in the pay scale of the chairpersons or members.

Mr. Krishna said increasing number of litigations and the media highlighting differences between the PSCs and the Government have resulted in loss of credibility to both the parties. Resorting to alternative ways of recruitment by the Government has added fuel to the fire.

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