‘Role of politicians, officers should be well defined’

New Delhi: The role of politicians and government officers should be clearly defined and separated, former bureaucrats said at a panel discussion organised in Delhi on Saturday.

The discussion comes nearly two months after chief secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted by leaders of the ruling AAP during a midnight meeting at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence.

The alleged attack on February 19 had led to mistrust between the bureaucracy and the political leadership in Delhi and also hit day-to-day governance in the national capital. The discussion was themed “Relationship between Elected Representatives (including Political Executive) and Indian Civil Services — Evolving a Code of Conduct”.

It was organised by the Delhi Administration Officers’ Academic Forum — along with AGMUT Cadre IAS Association, Danics Officers' Association and Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association.

The Danics and the Delhi Government Employees Welfare Association were among the forums that had boycotted the meetings called by Mr Kejriwal and his Cabinet until they apologise to Mr Prakash. 

At the panel discussion, former bureaucrat Bhure Lal said there was a need to define the role of bureaucrats and politicians, otherwise bureaucrats will remain "silent sufferers”. “We (the bureaucrats) are here to carry out orders that are constitutional. The order of the chief minister is not emanating from the Constitution. Politicians cannot have an upper hand,” Mr Lal, the chairman of the SC-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, said.