This refers to the editorial, “The CAT's whiskers” (April 2). British politician, historian and moralist, lord Acton, aptly said that “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”, thereby conveying the message that when a person's power increases, their moral sense diminishes and the present power scenario the world over brings a testimony to the same.
With absolute power, a person thinks that they are the cat's whisker’s and, hence, accountable to none for their wrong doings, misdeeds and faux pas and, therefore, in an inebriation of money, muscle or political power, they are prone to corruption which is at the root of myriad social ills in the country.
As regards the politicians, they eventually have to account for their arbitrariness by facing defeat in elections at the hands of the very people electing them as their leaders and representatives. But when it comes to unsrupulous bureaucrats, it becomes a Himalyan task to tame them with scarce provisions in place for the purpose. But the filip side of the matter is also that an honest mandarin is never afraid of any political powers that be and so doesn't discharges his duties under any sort of duress.
However, the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) recent order, in favour of a Bihar cadre IAS official who was falsely incriminated in a case of graft, directing the Centre to either change the cadre of such-like harrassed civil officials or send them on central deputation, will boost the morale of the entire bureaucracy and in-turn help stem corruption.