Civil servants must be impartial, non-political, says Virbhadra

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 18

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said civil servants should be impartial and capable of implementing the policies of the state government.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the 17th National Conference of chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions (SPSC) here today. He said the society at large needed honest and efficient services from public functionaries who should be result-oriented, incorruptible and easily accessible.

He said the national conference of the chairpersons was an effective platform to share ideas, experiences and practices related to the functioning of the commissions. This would play a catalytic role in improving the functioning of Union and State Public Service Commissions.

“Such conferences enable the state commissions to learn from each other’s experiences and replicate the same in their institutions to benefit job aspirants, besides discussing various issues and problems being faced by them,” Virbhadra remarked. He expressed hope that the deliberations in the co-nference would focus on latest applications of information technology with a view to bring efficiency, transparency, accountability and speedy dissemination of requisite services to all stakeholders.

He said there was dire need to have bodies such as the UPSC and SPSC, which were independent of any political influence in making recruitments and promotions. Members of the SPSCs should consider their position as an opportunity to devote themselves in the greater service of the public. “I have always believed in independence, dignity and strength of constitutional institutions,” said the Chief Minister.

In order to maintain the sanctity of this constitutional institution, the state government had granted official status and other privileges equivalent to that of Chief Secretary to the state government to the Chairman of HP Public Service Commission, he claimed.

KS Tomar, Chairman, HPPSC, said a Rs 5.27 crore e-governance project had been submitted to the Union IT Ministry and if approved, it would pave way for online examinations in the state. Also, the HPPSC had planned a Rs 2.80-crore digital library to provide relevant material and guidance to the aspirants competing for various exams, he added.