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Why not IB officers as Governors, asks Chaturvedi

Special Correspondent

He was referring to the appointment of Chhattisgarh Governor

NEW DELHI: Union Cabinet Secretary B.K. Chaturvedi has defended the United Progressive Alliance Government's decision to appoint former security and intelligence officials Governors, saying there is nothing wrong with the practice.

He was referring to the appointment of E.S.L. Narasimhan as Chhattisgarh Governor within days of his retirement as IB chief on December 31, 2006.

"From where do you appoint a Governor? You cannot do so always from amongst the politicians. Either you appoint from the police, the IAS, officers, from the Army or from the public... If an IB officer has certain knowledge and information that would make him a good and useful Governor, what is wrong about appointing him? There is no quid pro quo; it is only if there is a suspicion of quid pro quo that there is cause to worry," Mr. Chaturvedi said in an interview that will appear in the coming issue of the news magazine Hardnews.

To a question, the top civil servant said politicisation eroded the value of the bureaucracy, "of an independent civil service whose job is to give advice impartially, fairly and in a manner that is in the best interests of the State and the Centre."

The Cabinet Secretary said the Government was planning to set up one lakh common service centres throughoutin the country for better access to the common man through electronic mode.

Certificates

"These will be run privately and 30 to 40 per cent of their business will come from the government. These kiosks will be the focal points for issuing caste certificates, birth and death certificates, driving licences, ration cards and certificates related to land records. Many of the things the Government does can be done through these e-kiosks. The idea is to decentralise services and make themmore people-friendly."

He identified issuing passports as another example of e-governance. People would now get a new passport in 15 days and renewal would be done in three days. He hoped that e-governance and use of the cutting-edge technology would help to reduce corruption. Referring to police reforms, Mr. Chaturvedi said the Government was examining all suggestions in the Soli Sorabji committee report.

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