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Welcome move

The Election Commission's order transferring Chennai Police Commissioner R. Nataraj for praising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in a media interview is welcome. As a senior government official, he should have exercised restraint in airing his personal views especially after the model code of conduct came into force.

Renu Elizabeth George,
Chennai

* * *

Professional ethics requires a government official to be above his likes and dislikes and absolutely neutral in discharging his duties. Unfortunately, in recent times, sycophancy and politicisation of the bureaucracy have been on the rise, eating into the vitals of the administration. The transfer of the Police Commissioner is not only a signal and a warning but also a golden opportunity to end the unhealthy trend of politicisation of the bureaucracy.

D. Samuel Lawrence,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

The Commission has forewarned all concerned that they should not deviate from the text-book model, especially now when passions are likely to rise even on trivial matters.

C.G. Sivakumaran,
New Delhi

* * *

Mr. Nataraj has clearly committed an act of impropriety by praising the Chief Minister at a time when the model code of conduct is in force. The Commission's averment that even the slightest bias can influence one while performing poll-related duties is entirely justified.

J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Srirangam, T.N.

* * *

Mr. Nataraj's comments cannot be explained away on the ground that they are personal. Any view is personal only till it remains personal. The moment it is expressed openly, it ceases to be so. Such an exposition may send the message that the Police Commissioner is a supporter of a particular party. It will prevent a common man from approaching him with complaints against the party. A civil servant is governed by conduct rules and is expected to comply with them even at the expense of his fundamental right.

T. Karthikeyan,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

By transferring the officer, the Election Commission, and by making the complaint against him Union Minister A. Raja, have helped in giving publicity to Ms. Jayalalithaa. Thanks to them, the entire nation knows that Mr. Nataraj praised Ms. Jayalalithaa. What would have gone unnoticed has made news headlines and the people are aware of not only Mr. Nataraj's views but also the reason why an honest and efficient police officer was transferred.

Hilda Raja,
Chennai

* * *

That the Election Commission should have hastily concluded that an able and people-friendly Commissioner of Police violated the model code of conduct is rather unfortunate. The Commission should have dealt with the matter in a graceful manner as it involved the prestige and competence of a high office. At least it could have rescinded the order after the Tamil Nadu Government approached it for a review.

P.K. Kalyana Raman,
Chennai

* * *

The Commission's move seeking to discipline the bureaucracy is untenable. It is well known that the bureaucrats do not enjoy unfettered powers. The Commission should first discipline political parties. It should apply its mind to issues, instead of being carried away by the vilification campaign of a few political parties. Merely shifting the Commissioner of Police cannot ensure free and fair elections.

S.S. Venkata Subramanian,
Chennai

* * *

The lesson from the episode is: envy cannot tolerate greatness in others. It appreciates the value of virtue but it grudges its presence in others. If the officer found the achievements of Ms. Jayalalithaa worthy of mention in connection with the Women's Day, what was so wrong in it? It needs a convoluted mind to interpret the gesture in the way it has been interpreted.

A.J. Rangarajan,
Chennai

* * *

The Commission should not demoralise and destabilise the State administration in its zeal to appear firm in conducting free and fair elections. It is not clear how it came to the conclusion that Mr. Nataraj cannot be depended upon to discharge his duty faithfully. Surely, there were other ways of dealing with the issue than casting aspersions on his integrity?

Y. Collison,
Chennai

* * *

If Indira Gandhi's birthday is celebrated when the model code is in force and a government servant praises her at a meeting organised by a women's organisation on the occasion, would it mean he or she is a sympathiser of the Congress? The transfer is a clear violation of the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

B. Jagannathan,
New York

* * *

The Election Commission should ban the playing/singing of the national anthem in government functions in Tamil Nadu because it ends with the words Jaya jaya jaya jaya hey!

R. Jayashree,
Tiruchi, T.N.

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