Public Administration Mains 2018 : Model Question and Answer - 89
(Public Administration Paper II / Chapter: State Government and Administration)
(Current Based) Question: The office of the governor must be protected from the machinations of political influence. Comment. (10 Marks/200 Words)
Model Answer:
It is important for constitutional authorities to act in accordance with their oath of office and preserve and protect the Constitution rather than act in a blatantly partisan manner. The governors are consistently being seen as the long arm of the government and perhaps more serious is the impact of such existential playouts on the common man. People understand the nature of electoral politics. But when they see institutions being consistently devalued, they start losing faith not only in the institutions and those who occupy them, but also in democracy.
There are two lessons to be learnt :
(1) the institution of the governor must be protected from the machinations of political parties.
(2) the Supreme Court must, once and for all, give a clear verdict on the role of the governors in such situations.\
The country should not be witness again to the destruction of constitutional values, the protection of which alone is of seminal importance. In an era of declining political morality, constitutional values are under siege. As in this case, the courts must be ever vigilant. (Total Words- 185)
Valuable inputs from The Indian Express Coulmn: ‘What a Governor must do' by Kabil Sibal
(Linkages: The office of governor and Constitutional obligation, The office of governor and Agent of Centre, The office of governor and Vigilant Courts)