Specialised Professionals Are Needed in Government, But...

Newsreel Asia Insight #313
August 19, 2024

The lateral entry system, which introduces professionals with specialised knowledge into government roles, isn’t inherently problematic. It doesn’t matter which party introduced the concept. The key concern is that this system should only be implemented by a government that consistently promotes and supports professionalism among the officials at the helm of government institutions.

The controversy arose when the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) recently advertised to recruit 45 Joint Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Secretaries across 24 Central Ministries through lateral entry on a contract basis or deputation, as reported by The Hindu.

The BJP government, defends the lateral entry initiative as a continuation and proper implementation of recommendations from the UPA-era Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC). According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, these measures aim to address skill gaps in the bureaucracy by injecting expert knowledge through a transparent process handled by the UPSC, ensuring that recruitment remains fair and merit-based.

However, the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, contends that the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s use of the lateral entry system sidesteps conventional recruitment methods, as reported by NDTV. This, he argues, could weaken the reservation system and prioritise ideological loyalty over meritocracy. According to Gandhi, this approach seems designed to favour individuals aligned with the BJP’s ideological base, especially from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), compromising the expected impartiality of the civil services.

Similarly, Akhilesh Yadav, the president of Samajwadi Party, see the lateral entry as a direct threat to the inclusivity and accessibility of government positions, particularly for underrepresented communities. Yadav frames the issue as a larger conspiracy to dilute the constitutional guarantees of reservation and to install officials who would prioritise corporate and capitalist interests over public welfare, suggesting a neoliberal agenda that sidelines the majority for the benefit of a few.

While the BJP has correctly identified the potential of lateral entry to enhance governance, it is overlooking that its successful implementation relies heavily on the credibility and neutrality of the government in power.

Allegations of misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department for political gains cast a long shadow over other governmental processes, including recruitment. If the government is perceived as exploiting its powers for political ends, then every initiative it undertakes, including lateral entry, is bound to be viewed through a lens of scepticism.

In March 2023, opposition parties, led by Gandhi’s Indian National Congress, submitted a joint petition to the Supreme Court of India. The petition challenged the central government’s “arbitrary use” of agencies such as the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as reported by The Hindu. The petition addressed the government’s actions of arresting and initiating criminal proceedings against opposition leaders who expressed dissent or disagreed with governmental policies.

In May 2024, Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts stated, “If there are any lessons to be learned from history, it would be observed that ‘strong’ leaders, laws, and agencies generally come back to bite the very citizens they vow to protect. After the masculinity of the law has been expressed against the stated targets, such laws are invariably alleged to have been employed against average citizens,” as reported by The Indian Express.

Until the lateral entry system is perceived as free from political biases and manipulation, involving the UPSC, known for its rigorous and impartial selection processes, seems like the only way. Alternatively, the government could include opposition parties in the recruitment process to address their concerns.

It's time for the government to realise that rebuilding and maintaining broader trust in its overall governance practices is crucial before implementing the lateral entry system.