Ethical Governance: The Nolan Commission and Policy Issues
| Author | R. Ravikiran,I. Ramabrahmam |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120130310 |
| Published date | 01 July 2013 |
| Date | 01 July 2013 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
ETHICAL GOVERNANCE:
THE
NOLAN
COMMISSION AND POLICY ISSUES
I.
RAMABRAHMAM
AND R.
RA
VIKIRAN
Recent attempts
at
reengineering governance show an
inclination towards the introduction
of
ethical governance in
civil services as well as informal systems
of
education stressing
its surging importance in both administrative and academic
spheres. This article attempts to take an overview
of
the
endeavours in the backdrop
of
such a move by the Nolan
Commission on Principles
of
Public Life in UK from 1995
onwards. Patterned on the same, the Indian state too indicated
its resolve
to
adopt
it.
These together raise questions about
adaptability in not only civil services but more importantly
their
observance
among
political
class. Can
they
be
implemented given the difficulties in their measurability
especially
in
an environment marked by competitive politics
and status quoist bureaucracy?
INTRODUCTION
SYSTEMS OF Governance always exhibit eagerness to identify what is
best but seldom show sustainability in the long run. One need not be cynical
but has to be realistic.
It
appears to be true in respect
of
current propensity
towards adoption
of
ethical framework to be applied to different layers
of
governance in India. Just as the way Herbert Simon dismissed principles
of
administration as proverbs, the dangers to the adoption
of
ethical
governance are clearly written on the wall. This apprehension stems from
the fact that the 'principles' themselves are difficult to be measured in
one's own track record and, secondly, stiff resistance to objective assessment
from the status quoists is difficult to ignore. Moreover in the absence
of
unchanging methodology for assessing the work
of·civil
servants,
monitoring is restricted to writing
of
CRs based on archaic colonial
practices.
Again, the move on the part
of
political establishment to negate the
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