People in the prime of their career try to wriggle out of a posting to Andamans. How come you agreed to such a posting at the fag end of your career?

As a matter of principle, I never quibbled about my posting. I was being posted within my jurisdiction. Moreover, I could not resist the temptation of being a part of these exotic Islands; however brief the experience.

Within days of your assuming charge the controversial reshuffle order was issued declaring some directors special secretaries with independent charge, cutting the secretaries down to size and turning the bureaucratic hierarchy on its head. Assignment of portfolios, considered the exclusive preserve of chief secretary; did you have time enough to apply your mind?

Joshi was on leave at the time. KS Singh was holding his charge. I was told that a lot of thinking had gone into it and even my predecessor was involved in that exercise. I thought: what was the harm in a little experimentation if it served the people well and things got expedited.

There were strong rumors that it was the handiwork of a coterie controlled by GC Joshi, then secretary to LG and KS Singh, deputy commissioner to 'put the IAS in place'. How far is it true?

Joshi was on leave at the time. KS Singh was holding his charge too. About the rest, its history now!

According to our feedback, some of the directors elevated to the rank of special secretaries too were unhappy with the order. What feedback did you get? Was the experiment a success?

It did not work. It fragmented the bureaucracy. It arrayed direct IAS against the promotee IAS on the one hand and the IAS and DANICS on the other hand. Some people had the perception that the promotee IAS fell in an entirely different category because of their long service in subordinate posts. The responses, behavior and the capacity to act independently take some time to adjust with the changed responsibilities. The work suffers in the meantime.

Do you subscribe to that idea?

It's not a question of my opinion. They are as much a part of part of the system. I do believe that they must be given a gestation period. A period for adjustment!

Any specific case of resentment?

The deputy commissioner is a very important officer in the system. There was strong resentment against bestowing the powers of secretary (revenue) upon one of the deputy commissioners out of three simply because he happened to be posted in Port Blair.

Did the officers protest?

Yes! Some of them did protest openly and in writing, others conveyed it orally and yet others simply sulked.

The reaction of DANICS?

Only those who were part of the coterie were happy. Others were quite unhappy about the development.

Did you do something to set the things right?

I couldn't! However, when a proposal was mooted to delegate financial powers to the special secretaries, I put my foot down.

This April also a highly contentious reshuffle order was issued.

Look! The chief secretary is an advisor to the administrator. If the administrator happens to be from civil service he is justified sometimes in ignoring the advisor because his long association with the service stands him in good stead. If from any other field, the administrator does need the advisor to guide him in taking important decisions as managing civilian administration is quite a different ballgame.

If however, an administrator thinks he knows his subject well and does not need an advisor, that's it! There is no sense pushing things beyond a point. It proves counterproductive.

Was there a conscious attempt to create a rift between the CS and the Administrator?

I wouldn't know if there was any.

But there was an attempt to undermine the office of the chief secretary. What does the withdrawal of power to grant leave to senior officers and also approval of tour programmes indicate? Encourage officers to look up to the administrator rather than the CS! By implication, dilute of authority of the CS?

The chief secretary draws his powers from the administrator. If he chooses to exercise it himself, that is his privilege.

A demoralized bureaucracy, a compromised office of chief secretary, other ranks in disarray; the scenario does not behave well for development. Don't you think?

The people don't have any problem, the political set up is happy, the press is silent. Who is bothered about development?

It was rumored that Joshi was acting like a super CS and used to dispose off your files at his level.

Joshi had never worked in secretariat. He had worked in subordinate offices only. He was ignorant of the procedures. Secretary to the administrator has to go through the files to brief him if required. Sometimes, the administrator directs him to call the concerned secretary or CS to discuss the matter or seek some clarifications. The secretary's job is to get that information through private communications; a phone call or a slip conveying the administrator's wish. Joshi used to write on the file itself or create a separate file. Sometimes the part file flew in a tangent and the decision was held up for months together.

But the reports said that the situation was worse than what you explained.

Maybe. But the matter was taken up with the administrator and it had stopped. But why blame Joshi alone? Even Arvind Ray had exceeded the brief on occasions. But those were aberrations.

Is an atmosphere of mistrust and mutual suspicion conducive for the development of the territory?

Certainly not! Everything and everyone suffers in the process. The administration collapses, the developmental plans are stalled and the people pay for it in the final analysis. Look at tourism, fisheries, high value agriculture - nothing moves beyond files and meetings; nothing on the ground.

Moving over to other subjects; the administration appeared too weak in taking decisive actions against people who make a mockery of its authority.

For instance?

Kajol Haldar, Pramukh of Rangat Panchayat Samiti locked up the office for over a week leaving the staff stranded. She wanted the executive officer transferred. After 10 days, the administration transferred the Executive Officer but there was no action against a public servant for such blatant violation of decency, decorum and discipline of public office.

Everybody had failed in his action; the deputy commissioner, the director (Panchayat) and the secretary (LSG). I had to intervene. I had directed them to proceed against the delinquent Pramukh. But perhaps, it was not followed up.

People have started resorting to agitations, protests, dharnas and processions against the deficient services or apathy of the authorities. It is quite a recent phenomenon. What do you think are the reason?

The authorities are getting insensitive to the needs and aspirations of the people. The administration has turned chamber oriented. The higher ups don't even know what is happening at the ground level in their departments. Recently, there was a protest against transfer of doctors in Mayabunder. I had to intervene as the DHS and secretary (health) had failed to solve the issue.

The effectiveness of the administration is at the lowest ebb. Whether there is a public demonstration of it not, that is the general feeling amongst the people. What would you attribute it to?

There is a general deterioration in civil services all over. The work culture has changed, the ethos have changed. People come for a 2-3- year term. They don't come with a great enthusiasm to serve the territory. The lack of direction and clarity of objectives set out by the administration does not help matters either. There is also certain lack of expertise like preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and tendering process. If one is done successfully, the files get in a vicious circle; shunted from one ministry after the other. Naturally, even the greatest enthusiast finds it a daunting task and loses interest.

Were any attempts made to sort such things out?

We banked on IDA to give direction and provide leadership. But that again proved futile. It is a highly sophisticated body that takes a holistic view of things. It is highly susceptible to pulls and pushes at the centre at a given time to make a difference in the delivery systems in the island territories.

That is a dangerous situation; isn't? The opportunities just pass by as we look on.

It is! There is no merit in surrendering hundreds and thousands of crores year after year without creating any assets. There was that administrator I heard who he was Va…

Vakkom Purushothaman?

Yes, yes

And not that there is no corruption right now!

Exactly! And without creating any visible asset!

What is the way out?

In my personal opinion, there is no substitute to a democratic set up. People's aspirations grow with the rise in prosperity. The present system has proved incapable of meeting those aspirations. Some kind of a democratic set up would shift the decision making process from Delhi to Port Blair. The PRI, Zilla Parishad or the Municipality does not have the mandate to discharge those duties. You have to have an alternate.

An Assembly?

I'm afraid yes!

It is said the population is too small and the strategic importance of the islands?

The size of the population should be no constraint. When statehood was given to North-Eastern states, they did not have very large population. Indian Armed Forces are in a different league altogether. The type of administration would be no impediment in their activities, they aren't anywhere in the country.

Do you think the territory is ready for it?

You can't question the wisdom of the people in a democracy. It's for you; the conscientious people in the press to create awareness; educate the common people to elect the right persons to lead them.

Don't you think there'll be a chaos, mayhem?

Yes! Initially, there might be a churning, a little turbulence but it can't go downhill; there is no space!