Book review: M. P. Singh and S. N. Mishra, Ethics, Probity and Accountability in Public Services
| Author | Moitri Dey |
| Published date | 01 June 2019 |
| Date | 01 June 2019 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0019556119863858 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
Book Reviews 585
feedback sessions, scrutiny of the examination answer-books) shall not be allowed
to degenerate into a ritual. This seeks to emphasise, besides, that those lacking
sensitivity in the matter are completely unworthy of the teaching profession (pp.
3–4). That a university-fraternity must learn to appreciate how the internal self-
regulation and quality control will bring about the reinforcement of the country’s
external quality assessment system (that exists in the form of NAAC, NBA and the
procedures which they have evolved): that the two in this way mutually reinforce
each other (p. 97). This will then drive the university system to protect, preserve,
maintain and enhance—and meticulously defend—the extant procedures. While
these remain, and perhaps that is a conscious decision of the author, only tacitly
embedded emphases of the book, the fact of the matter is that they lend it the aura
of a passionate reformer.
Subtitle of the book—‘Reflections of an Insider’—merits a comment.
V. S. Prasad has had a glorious innings in the country’s higher education sector.
Combining a rare diversity, he has seen the system in diverse roles during the course
of his career of over four decades: Professor, Vice-Chancellor as well as Director,
National Assessment and Accreditation Council. This enables the author to deliver
the masterly account that the book under review carries with such elegance.
Arvind K. Sharma
Former Professor
Public Administration
Indian Institute of Public Administration
New Delhi, India;
Former Vice-Chancellor
Mizoram University
Aizawl, India
arvind.sharma41@gmail.com
M. P. Singh and S. N. Mishra, Ethics, Probity and Accountability in Public
Services. New Delhi: Indian Institute of Public Administration, 2017,
xl + 425 pp., `450. ISBN: 9788186641947.
DOI:10.1177/0019556119863858
For decades, the issues of morality, efficiency, ethics, probity, corruption, account-
ability and transparency in public services have been the points of general discus-
sion. The issue of ethics and morality in public service is not an India-specific
problem. It is a global phenomenon. The UK is widely acknowledged for many
public sector reforms. British Jurist Patrick Birkenshaw (Chapter 15) laments that
the creation of markets in the provision of government services has brought in
practices that may be inimical to public sector ethics. They pertain to selfishness
and ‘get quick rich’ mentality. It is the extent of corruption and unethical practices
in public services that make India a stand-out case study.
The editors have consolidated the finest work and experiences in public services
by academics, professionals, bureaucrats, senior army officer and judges of high
To continue reading
Request your trial