Day 26: Illustrate the importance of the code of conduct in the discharge of their duties for a civil servant. Elucidate how the code of conduct is different from code of ethics. (150 words)
05 Aug 2022 | GS Paper 4 | Theoretical QuestionsA civil servant is an official in the service of the people in a contemporary democracy who is recruited based on established criteria. Civil servants are officials who must be aware about the country's laws and regulations and are expected to operate in the best interests of the nation and its citizens. They are in charge of managing the government's resources and ensuring that they are used efficiently and effectively. Civil servants must preserve their integrity, fearlessness, and independence in order for a parliamentary system to function well. According to the head of the Canadian Public Service, one of the most essential tasks of the public service is to "speak truth to power."
The challenge of ethics and accountability among civil servants raises several questions about the framework of the code of conduct, constitutional protection, the politician-bureaucratic nexus, and their political victimization. To address these difficulties and sustain civil servant integrity and discipline, multiple reform committees such as the Santhanam Committee (1964), Hota Committee (2004), and the most recent Second Administrative Reform Committee Report (2005) were constituted.
"Conduct Rules," a compilation of guidelines with "do's and don'ts," was released in the 1930s. The All India Services Rules, adopted in 1955, divided the compilation into separate regulations. The 1964 version of these regulations was the outcome of the Santhanam Committee's recommendation. Later amendments to these guidelines added other behavioural standards.
According to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, every member of the service shall maintain:
There is no ethical code for civil servants in India, despite similar standards exist in other nations. We have a set of guidelines that forbid a range of typical acts. These standards for behaviour have a function, but they are not a code of ethics. While the Conduct Rules provide basic guidelines such as "keeping integrity and unwavering commitment to duty," The code of conduct is typically intended to list particular acts deemed inappropriate for civil servants. Recently, there has been some concern that additional "generic norms" should be added to the list of permitted conduct.
In 2007, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions published a draft "Public Service Bill" to establish a set of generic standards of civil servants known as "values." The major "values" envisioned in the Bill are as follows:
Difference Between Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics | |
Code of Conduct | Code of Ethics |
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The proposed Bill includes a public service code and a public service management code, which give more specific requirements. Penalties for code infractions would be similar to the major and minor fines presently imposed by leaders of organizations and institutions. A "Public Service Authority" is also envisaged to oversee the implementation of the code and the declared goals, as well as to provide advice on both.