Hindustan Times
Should Kiran Bedi be the CIC ?
Open lobbying has begun in favour of Kiran Bedi, the country’s first woman IPS officer for the position of the Chief Information Commissioner. Actor Aamir Khan, activists– Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Sandeep Pande and media baron Subhash Chandra have all come out openly in her support in letters to both Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson strongly recommending her case. What is also unprecedented is that every section of the media is giving the news prominence and is in a way actively batting for the iconic lady.
I have strong reservations over the manner in which the lobbying is being done primarily because an attempt is being made to rightly or wrongly portray Kiran Bedi as the only deserving person for the job which fell vacant after Wajahat Habibullah moved away. Those lobbying are also making out a case that if anyone other than Bedi is appointed, the government should justify his or her selection. In other words, if someone else is appointed, those lobbying for Bedi may turn around and say that the appointment is arbitrary thus taking away some credibility from the appointee.
The way things are being done amounts to saying that the government and everyone else should agree with the view or else we will not accept the new choice. It is like what has happened in some criminal cases in Delhi where the media and some sections of society condemned the accused despite their acquittal even when there was no evidence on record against them. The judge had to send them back to jail for either fear of facing the media wrath or for reasons best known to him.
I have known Kiran Bedi for many years and there is no doubt in my mind that she is an iconic figure. Her status is also due to her being the first IPS woman officer and also because she was academically bright (she topped MA of Punjab university) and was the Asian women’s tennis champion. She has many virtues, which many others may lack. But she also has limitations, which are reflected, in her chequered record as a police officer where she shirked responsibility and where she sometimes acted in an unjustified manner. Her supporters cried foul and accused the Home Ministry of having a gender bias when she was overlooked for being made the Delhi Police Commissioner. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I had at that time (July, 2007) written my column on her for which I provide the following link.
My submission to those who are supporting her is that they should not try to force the issue on the government but allow it to take a considered view. In our over enthusiasm to promote her case, we must also ensure that the case of someone else who may not be lobbying but is more deserving does not fall by default. I say this with full responsibility and my respect for Kiran Bedi as an iconic figure will go up many times if she tells those supporting her to allow the government to take an appropriate decision. If she becomes the next CIC well and good. But please do not let the institution be devalued if she fails to make it.
(4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Pankaj Vohra on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Filed under india · Tagged Aamir Khan, Delhi Police Commissioner, Hindustan Times, IPS woman officer, Kiran bedi, Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson, Subhash Chandra
Pankaj is correct. Lobbying for such an important post is an indicator of the malaise which has taken deep roots in our democracy. The blatant manner in which bureaucrats have grabbed the post of information commissioners in the states and centre itself has already devalued the basic purpose of this institution.
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Pankaj Vohra Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Yes. Bureaucrats look at jobs after retirement. But outside that fold there are a lot of competent people. Why do we not look at them. But we have to simulatenously ensure that bureaucrats in power share information and not hold it back only because you have a competent person from outside the bureaucracy. We are evolving as a democracy and we should allow bright people to take up responsibilities that were hitherto taken up by retired civil servants. Anil Maheshwari is right. Rgds.
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This is an eye opener. But at the same time, one wonders if all this is true.
We saw the effect of Crane Bedi when the roads of Bhogal market were cleared of encroachments. I remember she took up some cudgels against some policians family cars parked improperly, much to our delight. I wonder if it was political compulsions that took her away.
Similarly one was told by some staff who served at Tihar that she was making a positive difference.
Lobbying is a way of life, regrettably. I only hope that powers that be do not succumb to this
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Pankaj Vohra Reply:
November 4th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Marketing is an accepted thing now. But thhere have been people who have been ahead of their times so fat as marketing is concerned. No harm in that. But Ms Bedi is a part of that brigade. By the way, the new generation does not know that when Ms Bedi was crane Bedi, there were very few cars in Delhi. It was before the Maruti hit the roads. The car revolution only started after 1984. Brgds.
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The great former Chief Justice Hidayatullah once said that you don’t kill a fly with a sledgehammer. Any overkill is bad. Kiran Bedi, undoubtedly one of the best known police officers has never been known for her sense of moderation. She may have done well to personally attempt to meet the Persons concerned and presented her credentials with humility and fortitude, instead of making this a high blaring campaign, with assorted celebrities who are prepared to support different persons and causes at different points in time.
Besides the other traits she enjoys, Kiran Bedi is a Magsasay awardee. She is recognised through the length and breadth of the country and she has indeed put up a fantastic show in “Aap ki kachehri”. With these fantastic attributes- all she had to do was to write to the Executive of her desire to occupy the position. If she was denied, she should certainly accept the denial with rectitude.
I have a foreboding that she has ruined her chances by attempting to bring her campaign to people’s doorsteps.
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Kiran Bedi as the Chief Information Commission??? Why not? The joint suggestion made by the celebrities merits careful consideration by the GOI. I fail to understand why is it being mis-called as ‘lobbying’, carrying derogatory connotation.These days, nothing moves unless the name is sponsored by eminent persons.You may call it lobbying or whatever. In the absence of any nominations, the GOI will have a free hand to appoint any Tom, Dick or Harry!
The brave- heart, uncompromising, first lady IPS officer of India, nicknamed as “Crane Bedi”,as she did not refrain from towing Mrs Indira Gandhi’s official car parked wrongly. Endowed with such characteristics, no wonder that she excelled even in inconsequential postings. Further cut up, the GOI ‘forced’ her to tender resignation. Against this background, Kiran Bedi is recommended by several celebrities and social activists like Narayan Murthy, Anna Hazare , Aamir Khan etc for her appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner(CIC). The resignation of Wajahat Habibullah has left a void in the CIC.The Commission is at the cross-roads, somewhat fragmented and rudderless! There is an urgent need to revamp it through appropriate leadership and premature termination of contractual appointments of the existing Central Information Commissioner .It is an open secret that all Commissions created by GOI are a parking lot for retired IAS bureaucrats in return for their unquestioned compliance of the power that be! Thanks to their pliable spines! The non-IAS bureaucracy, per se, is never in favour of Commissions stuffed with superannuated bureaucrats by the GOI as rewards for its favourites (Read as retired IAS bureaucrats) having ‘opaque’ mindsets. It will be unfair to expect transparency from them as they are programmed to keep the govt corruption and its malfunctioning under the wrap . Even the CIC’s bureaucracy ,which is on deputation from central ministries needed a shake-up as they have developed terrible vested interests. Some retired IAS officers were transparent enough to confess to me that such post-retirement assignments enable them to continue with freebies like chauffeur driven cars , retention of govt bungalows etc.The case of Kiran Bedi is, however, different. She need not prove her credentials. She has that rare spark, which could impel any one to see her as a role model. Known to me for over two decades,I wish her good luck in the interest of transparency and probity in public life. But, the million dollar question is: Will she ever make it to the CIC? Is she not a persona non grata to the de facto PM located at 10-Janpath? And, above all,how could the IAS coterie permit her to ‘boss’ over them? My sixth sense says: Hard luck for her! But the suggestion has generated a healthy debate and as a former civil servant, I am very happy about it.
A K SAXENA (A retired civil servant)
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from them as they are programmed to keep the govt corruption and its malfunctioning under the wrap . Even the CIC’s bureaucracy ,which is on deputation from central ministries needed a shake-up as they have developed terrible vested interests. Some retired IAS officers were transparent enough to confess to me that such post-retirement assignments enable them to The brave- heart, uncompromising, first lady IPS officer of India, nicknamed as “Crane Bedi”,as she did not refrain from towing Mrs Indira Gandhi’s official car parked wrongly. Endowed with such ‘undesirable’ characteristics, no wonder that she excelled even in inconsequential postings. Further cut up, the GOI ‘forced’ her to seek voluntary retirement. Against this background, Kiran Bedi is recommended by several celebrities and social activists like Narayan Murthy, Anna Hazare , Aamir Khan etc for her appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner(CIC). The resignation of Wajahat Habibullah has left a void in the CIC.The Commission is at the cross-roads, somewhat fragmented and rudderless! There is an urgent need to revamp it through appropriate leadership and premature termination of contractual appointments of the existing Central Information Commissioner .It is an open secret that all Commissions created by GOI are a parking lot for retired IAS bureaucrats in return for their unquestioned compliance of the power that be! Thanks to their pliable spines! The public, per se, is never in favour of Commissions stuffed with superannuated bureaucrats by the GOI as rewards for its favourites (Read as retired IAS bureaucrats) having ‘opaque’ mindsets. It will be unfair to expect transparency continue with freebies like chauffeur driven cars , retention of govt bungalows etc.The case of Kiran Bedi is, however, different. She need not prove her credentials. She has that rare spark, which could impel any one to see her as a role model. Known to me for over two decades,I wish her good luck in the interest of transparency and probity in public life. But, the million dollar question is: Will she ever make it to the CIC? Is she not a persona non grata to the de facto PM ? And, above all,how could the IAS coterie permit her to ‘boss’ over them? My sixth sense says: Hard luck for her!
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Dear Pankaj,
You are absolutely correct. Such lobbeying has counter effect. Ms Bedi may be a good IPS officer and has many good virtues. But for this particular constitutional position flamboyance is not needed. Deserving is one who/she is a thinker and has low profile.
Wazahat Habibullah has done a good job and he is too articulate and very much polished. We need someone like him.
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Lobbying can be given a new name “Social Connection” Once you categorise yourself in this, then the perjury is not committed. The other reason for gaining any top offices is to have the right connections. Inspite of talent and competence, it has been always a matter who serves the innate purpose at that office.
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Lobbying is required for the post of CIC. If it is not done then the GOI will force any Tom,Dick and Harry on this post.Even at present, all senior level appointments are made through quiet lobbying,without fanfare.
A K SAXENA
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It stirs a forboding the way lobbying for such a position has been been initiated. It is actually a good idea to find out who got it initiated. I hope not agents of an outside power enimical to interests of India.Indian democracy had enough of it when a recent judge went on to become chief justice of India due to dangerous vest interests. Careful handling by the then speaker gave credance to the Indian parliamentary system although it did prove that Indian democracy and therefore the freedom of a vast majority of its people remains at stake. Who knows a couple of people who have no faith in inclusive society will get together at important positions and bring chaos in the Indian political scene which has been working pretty well and improving gradually.
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Well honestly speaking do you think that the growth of India is because of Governance?
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