The Cabinet has approved revision of the Code of Conduct for Ministers in the Government of India as well as the State Governments. It is now proposed to include a new para in the Code of Conduct which will read as follows:
“2. After taking office, and so long as he/he remains in office, the Minister shall:-
(f) uphold the political impartiality of the civil services and not ask the civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the civil servants.”
The revised Code of Conduct for Ministers will become effective immediately from the date of issue with regard to the Ministers of the Union Government. As regards the Ministers of State Governments and the Union Territory Administrations, the revised Code will be forwarded to the Chief Ministers for adoption.
The code of conduct should also include a clause for NOT USING THE INFORMATION TO WHICH THE MINISTER IS PRIVY ON, ACCOUNT OF HOLDING THAT OFFICE , FOR MAKING PERSONAL GAINS FOR HIM AS WELL AS FOR HIS FAMILY AND RELATIVES. It is suspected that when certain matters pertaining to policy are being discussed in the cabinet or in the ministry some ministers / politicians take advantage by taking some advance investment decisions like buying land around new project site which is being discussed for approval etc. THIS IS SIMILAR TO PREVENTING INSIDER TRADING.
The revision of the COC has undoubtedly a laudable objective of safeguarding the overwhelming and most important facet of ‘public interest’ in its profound sense.Such a step coupled with the RTI, expectedly must go a long way in improving upon the functions of “public servants” in its comprehensive sense/ meaning of the Constitution.
Everyone of the States are now expected to scrupulosly take the lead and follow suit by simpty adopting it, on a warfooting; without any attempt to drag the feet and thereby procrastinate or whittle down the objective behind in any manner whatsoever.It is the Centre’s responsibility to strive and accomplish that goal through a close follw-on.