Civil Servants Needed, Not Civil Serpents -- By Nisser Dias

In the realm of governance, there's a prevalent adage that speaks volumes: "Government servants serve those who pay their bribes but not who pay their salaries."

This adage recently echoed starkly in the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court's reprimand of Goa's top bureaucrats, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel (IAS), and Director General of Police Jaspal Singh (IPS), regarding ongoing illegal sand mining. Despite filing affidavits promising to halt this activity, both officials received a scathing assessment from Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki S A Menezes, who deemed these affidavits as mere paper assurances.

Such disregard for legally binding documents by top-ranking officers signifies a failure to uphold the law they're sworn to enforce. Their actions not only undermine the sanctity of their affidavits but also erode the public's trust in the administration they lead.

In my view, the High Court's leniency towards these officials seems a tad excessive, especially considering their complicity in allowing illegal sand mining—a mere glimpse into a larger web of illicit activities thriving under their watch. Despite court orders, including those from the Supreme Court, government authorities seem complacent, turning a blind eye to these issues.

It's distressing when the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police treat the High Court's directives as inconsequential, blatantly refusing to act on their sworn commitments. This behavior contradicts the expectation set by India's first Deputy Prime Minister, Vallabhai Patel, who envisioned IAS officers as individuals of integrity, boldness, and the willingness to confront elected representatives in power. Today, however, such assertiveness is deemed unacceptable by political leaders, as they often foster illegality, with bureaucrats turning into enablers rather than upholders of justice.

The positions of Chief Secretary and Director General of Police hold immense responsibility—they serve as the pillars of administrative functioning and law enforcement. Yet, the allure of personal gain through illegal acts, political favoritism, and post-retirement benefits has corroded the morals and ethics expected from these high-ranking officials.

One can only imagine the plight of the common citizen seeking justice or relief from these officers who casually disregard the directives of the High Court. It's evident that the taxpayer, the backbone of their hefty salaries, is inconsequential to them, warranting the perceived leniency from the court.

Furthermore, the dismissive attitude of these top-tier officers reflects the pervasive culture of corruption, apathy, and defiance trickling down to lower levels of the bureaucratic hierarchy. The Justices' assertion that the insolence of these officials is merely the "tip of the iceberg" resonates profoundly.

These arrogant officials operate under the misguided belief that their actions are beyond reproach. Thankfully, our judicial system stands as a beacon of accountability amid such challenges.

In conclusion, it's imperative for bureaucrats and government officers to recognize their role as civil servants of the people, not as self-serving entities or rather civil serpents.