National meet: IAS officials feel victimised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The national meet of IAS officers has called for an end to the misuse of draconian provisions of prevention of corruption act for targeting honest officials. At the meeting held in Delhi the other day, the representatives of various states said bureaucrats were unwilling to take decisions fearing victimization. They have serious reservations about 13 D (iii) of PC Act which says while holding office as a public servant, if an officer obtains for any person any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage without any public interest; then it amounts to criminal misconduct which can be prosecuted.

“13(d) is criminal liability section. If our decision leads to pecuniary gains for a third party than the officer will have criminal liability. This is what is presumption of guilt,” said an officer. The officers say vigilance in Kerala was targeting officials under 13 D of PC Act. The association hoped that the draconian section will be scrapped during the winter session of the Parliament as promised by Union Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitely. About 75 delegates mainly office bearers of IAS officers associations of different states took part in the meeting.

Most state association representatives pointed out that many officers were not taking prompt decisions for the fear of administrative and political witch hunting. The association members were highly critical of the media for projecting pay commission recommendations as "bumper lottery" for all India service officers.

“Salary revision takes place once in ten years.  Even if the hike ranges from 16 to 23 per cent, it is for a period of ten years. So annual increase is only 2.3 per cent where as annual inflation is 5.7 per cent. So while maximum hike is 24 per cent , the increase in inflation is more than 50 per cent," a senior officer said. Last but not the least, the meeting has also decided to approach the Centre and state governments to ensure that honest officers are protected and wrong doers punished.