“CBI Mess : Effects on Public Morale”
Kudos to Apex court’s interim order on CBI muddle. Let country wait for final verdict . But, the buck cannot stop here, irrespective of whether the two accused get clean chits or not.
The damage done to public morale due to internal war within CBI, is irrevocable, irreversible . It would be premature and inappropriate to comment on the culpabilities of the alleged offenders ,the matter being sub-judice and under court-monitored investigations.
But, it needs to be clearly understood that since both the accused are identified , brazenly supported by different political parties, they stand compromised. Hence, rendered automatically ineligible for re-instatement in CBI. Further still , in order to be just and fair, it would be unethical to give them sensitive assignments in CBI,IB,RAW even after getting clean chits.
The pathetic case of CBI conundrum, is out of the ordinary . Nationwide ramifications impacting peoples’ morale, across the board.
Rahul Gandh’s hypocrisy
Let us probe the dirty role of Congress party. The public was amazed to see the dynast, brazenly leading his protesters for laying the siege around CBI Hq in Delhi. Same drama was enacted by the hired goons outside the CBI regional offices, in States’ capitals across the country. A pre-meditated plan by throwing open the Congis’ dirty-tricks department to create mayhem and paralyse offices. Rahul Gandhi in his youthful , dynastic arrogance led the gherao march to CBI Hq, staging the tamasha of court arrest for sadistic pleasures. Extreme immaturity of a wayward dynast.
Public services offices’s failed to deliver
Officers and staff of Central, States’ governments, their public sector undertakings ,the PSBs, local bodies wasted precious office hours watching the ugly spectacle on TV sets and internets.
After existing vertical split of CBI into two lobbies, position has gone from bad to worse.
Public services offices came to a standstill.
Officers in ministries are gradually losing fear of CBI. A bad signal.
Misplaced confidence in private sector
Executives in private sector and corporate business houses felt more cocky, vainglorious and confident in manipulating government decisions in their favour.
CBI became a punching bag
Officers and Staff of CBI were the worst affected. Utterly de-motivated ,not due to guilt pangs,but due to loss of institutional credibility of CBI.
NSA’s off-the-cuff remark
Worse was yet to follow. National Security Advisor to PM added fuel to fire by adding his political pearls of wisdom : "Weak coalition is bad for country ". Was it a panic reaction ?He behaved more like a Political Advisor to PM than his Advisor on matters of National Security. Strange for a bureaucrat to cross the Lakshman Rekha of Statutary Conduct Rules. Most ill-timed and loaded political statement from a responsible officer at a public platform..
Delhi Police’s faux pas
Detaining four IB’s sleuths caught outside Verma’s home led to their manhandling by Delhi police personnel. Their identifications cards failed to convince the Delhi police.This further reinforced suspicions of distrust between two vertically divided sub-groups within CBI, owing respective loyalties to former Director and Special Director in CBI. Alok Verma was former CP ,Delhi with no exposure to CBI functioning. Asthana had been on deputation to CBI for decades.
CBI, more abused than used
As skeletons keep tumbling out of the cupboards, institutional faith in CBI built over several decades cannot be restored easily .The so-called premier investigative agency has been besieged with several issues starting from (i) political pressures on IOs, (ii) acute shortage of staff and officers,(iii) animosity among the promotee officers, IPS regulars coming on deputation from different States’ cadres and CBI’s home-grown cadres.
Worse, CBI’s home-grown cadre (insiders ) has been getting a raw deal for decades in promotion matters vis-a-vis the deputationists. Squabbling between the Prosecution and Investigative wings,is common. Each wing is more eager in achieving one-up-manship over each other rather than in case solving.
CBI Re-structuring is overdue
All above shortcomings have been detrimental to CBI’s professional efficiency. After vertical split of CBI into two lobbies, position has gone from bad to worse. Time to re-structure the CBI.
Some Questions
• Alleged leakage of information is considered CBI’s enemy No-1
• Is Indian Police Service a divided house. Two vertically divided groups.
• A move is reportedly gaining ground to put an IAS officer as head of organization.
• Clearly demarcated duties and functions. No dual command structure . Plugging all loopholes which were allegedly being misused by the IOs and top officers for leaking critical information to the media and the accused. All officers and staff under IB’s scanner.
Regrettably ,DOP&T, headed by successive Prime Ministers have never bothered to attend to these concerns.
Some corrective steps must be taken immediately to arrest further deterioration of a competent, professional premier investigation agency.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
The damage done to public morale due to internal war within CBI, is irrevocable, irreversible . It would be premature and inappropriate to comment on the culpabilities of the alleged offenders ,the matter being sub-judice and under court-monitored investigations.
But, it needs to be clearly understood that since both the accused are identified , brazenly supported by different political parties, they stand compromised. Hence, rendered automatically ineligible for re-instatement in CBI. Further still , in order to be just and fair, it would be unethical to give them sensitive assignments in CBI,IB,RAW even after getting clean chits.
The pathetic case of CBI conundrum, is out of the ordinary . Nationwide ramifications impacting peoples’ morale, across the board.
Rahul Gandh’s hypocrisy
Let us probe the dirty role of Congress party. The public was amazed to see the dynast, brazenly leading his protesters for laying the siege around CBI Hq in Delhi. Same drama was enacted by the hired goons outside the CBI regional offices, in States’ capitals across the country. A pre-meditated plan by throwing open the Congis’ dirty-tricks department to create mayhem and paralyse offices. Rahul Gandhi in his youthful , dynastic arrogance led the gherao march to CBI Hq, staging the tamasha of court arrest for sadistic pleasures. Extreme immaturity of a wayward dynast.
Public services offices’s failed to deliver
Officers and staff of Central, States’ governments, their public sector undertakings ,the PSBs, local bodies wasted precious office hours watching the ugly spectacle on TV sets and internets.
After existing vertical split of CBI into two lobbies, position has gone from bad to worse.
Public services offices came to a standstill.
Officers in ministries are gradually losing fear of CBI. A bad signal.
Misplaced confidence in private sector
Executives in private sector and corporate business houses felt more cocky, vainglorious and confident in manipulating government decisions in their favour.
CBI became a punching bag
Officers and Staff of CBI were the worst affected. Utterly de-motivated ,not due to guilt pangs,but due to loss of institutional credibility of CBI.
NSA’s off-the-cuff remark
Worse was yet to follow. National Security Advisor to PM added fuel to fire by adding his political pearls of wisdom : "Weak coalition is bad for country ". Was it a panic reaction ?He behaved more like a Political Advisor to PM than his Advisor on matters of National Security. Strange for a bureaucrat to cross the Lakshman Rekha of Statutary Conduct Rules. Most ill-timed and loaded political statement from a responsible officer at a public platform..
Delhi Police’s faux pas
Detaining four IB’s sleuths caught outside Verma’s home led to their manhandling by Delhi police personnel. Their identifications cards failed to convince the Delhi police.This further reinforced suspicions of distrust between two vertically divided sub-groups within CBI, owing respective loyalties to former Director and Special Director in CBI. Alok Verma was former CP ,Delhi with no exposure to CBI functioning. Asthana had been on deputation to CBI for decades.
CBI, more abused than used
As skeletons keep tumbling out of the cupboards, institutional faith in CBI built over several decades cannot be restored easily .The so-called premier investigative agency has been besieged with several issues starting from (i) political pressures on IOs, (ii) acute shortage of staff and officers,(iii) animosity among the promotee officers, IPS regulars coming on deputation from different States’ cadres and CBI’s home-grown cadres.
Worse, CBI’s home-grown cadre (insiders ) has been getting a raw deal for decades in promotion matters vis-a-vis the deputationists. Squabbling between the Prosecution and Investigative wings,is common. Each wing is more eager in achieving one-up-manship over each other rather than in case solving.
CBI Re-structuring is overdue
All above shortcomings have been detrimental to CBI’s professional efficiency. After vertical split of CBI into two lobbies, position has gone from bad to worse. Time to re-structure the CBI.
Some Questions
• Alleged leakage of information is considered CBI’s enemy No-1
• Is Indian Police Service a divided house. Two vertically divided groups.
• A move is reportedly gaining ground to put an IAS officer as head of organization.
• Clearly demarcated duties and functions. No dual command structure . Plugging all loopholes which were allegedly being misused by the IOs and top officers for leaking critical information to the media and the accused. All officers and staff under IB’s scanner.
Regrettably ,DOP&T, headed by successive Prime Ministers have never bothered to attend to these concerns.
Some corrective steps must be taken immediately to arrest further deterioration of a competent, professional premier investigation agency.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
