Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeshwar admonished UP Indian Administrative Service officers for succumbing to undue political pressure and for their increasing indulgence in corrupt activities.
He was addressing the officers at a dinner held during the annual IAS week that concluded on Sunday.
"Isn't it shocking that some officers try to justify their corrupt practices on the plea that they were poorly paid," he asked the gathering of over 400 officers belonging to the UP cadre of the IAS.
Having been an IPS officer himself, he sought to cite his own example in that regard - "When I retired from the Indian Police Service in the 1960s, I used to get a monthly salary of Rs. 3500; but that did not mean that I should turn corrupt."
"Both my daughter and son-in-law were in the Indian Foreign Service and together they were receiving a take-home of
Rs. 55,000; but that has not propelled them into becoming corrupt," he added.
He did not mince words in castigating IAS officers for their 'partisan' role during civic elections in the state last month.
"I know who did what in the local bodies elections; I received about 1000 complaints relating to irregularities during these elections. I am sure quite a few of these complaints were true; but let me tell you that those who have allowed themselves to be used are short-sighted and were apparently looking for short-term gains," he pointed out
Clearly, that was a message for the bureaucracy to work objectively during the forthcoming state assembly polls slated early next year.
Rajeshwar, who has been virtually at loggerheads with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, also came to the rescue of the bureaucracy when he supported their cause against frequent transfers and motivated suspensions .
"I was shocked when during a visit, the SSP of that district told me that he had been transferred seven times during a year's span," he disclosed.
"I also disapprove of the manner in which the state government has been suspending senior officers over the recent years; and also there was need to ensure minimum tenures of officers on key positions," he added to the comfort of the gathering.
Obviously boosted by the Governor's stand on transfers and suspensions, the UP IAS Association passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the state government's power to suspend them.
Through another resolution the association demanded fixed tenures for chief secretary as well as principal secretaries of all key departments.
"We will send these resolutions to the Union government," association secretary Sanjay Bhoosreddy told mediapersons.
