The much-awaited report of the Sixth Pay Commission is likely to be submitted before the deadline of end-March 2008, and there is much curiosity about the out-of-the-box recommendations it is likely to make. Hopefully, it will also address two issues especially critical for the superior civil services.

First, the problem of large-scale premature retirements. Despite tinkering around with the age of initial entry, there is a general expectation that entrants would serve an average of 30-35 years. This is not happening. Published details of retiring officers belonging to the All-India Services indicate that more than half the retirees are going much before the mandatory age of retirement: 60 years. Some are retiring prematurely after serving for as little as 10-15 years. The implications of this are horrendous. The All-India Services are losing officers at the cutting edge of administration like collectors, SPs, conservators of forests, commanders of special force battalions, and so on. Shortages at these levels are serious, since they provide the sinews of the system.

Why is this happening? The glib answer is that young officers are ‘materialistic’ and do not possess the same desire to serve society which imbued their greying seniors. This is a self-serving argument. What about job satisfaction? Pervasive corruption? The irrelevance of professional competence, and the ignoring of merit? Obsequiousness and servility being rewarded, but the honest and efficient being sidelined? Above all, the promotion to high positions of officials who end up often in jails. This happens regularly not just in UP but almost everywhere else too. No doubt the Sixth Pay Commission will have something to say on this deteriorating situation.

... contd.