This refers to A K Bhattacharya’s column “Appointments with a purpose” (Raisina Hill, January 14). Although the writer focuses on the change of guard in the financial services department, his argument can be extended to deficiencies in implementing proper succession plans at the top in government, public sector undertakings and statutory bodies. The last few years have seen a half-hearted attempt on the Centre’s part to fill vacancies at crucial positions — adversely affecting the Reserve Bank of India and UTI, among others. In fact, the last-minute decision on the Presidential candidate last year left North Block unguarded for sometime. Then, the hasty decision to shift the home minister to finance, who has now taken the responsibility to complete the entire United Progressive Alliance-II agenda in 2013, is proving to be costly for the political leadership. Of late, coalition partners are reluctant to leave governance to the governments they support, and expect much more than their proportionate share in decision-making. This impairs the normal HR management in filling vacancies and planning succession, giving outsiders an impression that it is the political expediency that prevails over public interest in governance.
M G Warrier Thiruvananthapuram
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number
