Himachal Pradesh : IAS, IPS officers’ associations condemn Vikramaditya Singh remarks

The Himachal Pradesh IAS and IPS officers’ associations have strongly condemned Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh’s remarks concerning bureaucrats from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, urging the state government to take appropriate steps to safeguard the dignity, morale and neutrality of officers serving in the state.

In a statement issued here today, the IAS Officers’ Association said that while it fully respects the prerogative of elected representatives to hold opinions and ensure accountability in governance, public statements singling out officers on the basis of their state of origin are inappropriate and risk causing avoidable damage to the morale and impartiality of the civil services.

“Public remarks that attribute administrative shortcomings to the regional origin of officers undermine the foundational spirit of the All India Services. Such generalisations can inadvertently erode public confidence in institutions and adversely affect the effective functioning of the administration,” the association said.

The IPS Officers’ Association also expressed deep anguish and serious concern over the minister’s statement, terming it an attempt to create an artificial and undesirable divide between Himachali and non-Himachali officers serving in the state.

The association said that any public statement which directly or indirectly questions the intent, commitment or legitimacy of a section of officers based on their place of origin is not only factually incorrect but also demoralising, divisive and detrimental to harmonious administrative functioning.

The IPS association has further requested the state government to take serious note of the issue and urged that no IPS officer be posted with Minister Vikramaditya Singh, citing concerns over a conducive working environment.

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