Civil Services Board

Topics Covered: Role of civil services in a democracy.

Civil Services Board

Context:

The Punjab government, last week, constituted a three-member civil services board to decide on IAS transfers and postings in the state.

Opposition to this move:

This notification providing for fixed tenure of IAS officers has left some leaders in the state upset.

It is because they feel appointment and transfer of IAS officers are a prerogative of the state.
They say, If their term is fixed, it will not only create functional and administrative problems, but also overstep the authority and jurisdiction of the state government.
With the fixed tenure rule and Chief Secretary’s board having all power to examine a recommendation for a transfer, the leaders feel their influence has been reduced to a naught and all power handed to the CS.

What is the government’s argument in its favour?

It says if the officials have a fixed tenure they will be able to provide better administration.
They will also feel safe and try to stick to the rules instead of pleasing political bosses.
It says every official requires 3-6 months to get into the groove at his new place of posting. If he stays there for two years, it would mean better delivery and stable tenure to people.

What is a Civil Services Board? What are its functions?

To insulate the bureaucracy from political interference and to put an end to frequent transfers of civil servants by political bosses, the Supreme Court had in 2013 directed the Centre and the states to set up a civil services board to consider transfers and postings of bureaucrats among others.

As per rules, all states should have a civil services board to decide on transfers and postings of the bureaucrats.

Functions:

The board is mandated to decide on the transfer of a civil servant before completion of his or her fixed tenure.
The rules mandate the civil services board to submit an annual report on January 1 to the central government about the date of the meetings held by them.

Composition:

The civil services board is headed by chief secretary of a state.

It has senior most additional chief secretary or chairman, Board of Revenue, Financial Commissioner or an officer of equivalent rank and status as member.
In addition, it will have Principal Secretary or Secretary, Department of Personnel in the state government as member secretary.

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