Why do we need Law? Can we live as a society with law?

 LAW IS THE PRICE THAT WE PAY TO LIVE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY

One of the most underrated achievements of mankind which has contributed ‘immensely’ in organizing us as a community towards the growth and development of human civilization is law and its effective enforcement. The nature and content of law may be a debatable subject but not the need of its existence as a great ‘unifying’ force. Accordingly, every civilized community has always acknowledged the imperativeness of developing a sound ‘legal system’ based on the contextual variables and an equally sound and dedicated institution of trained personnel to enforce the same. The desirability of efficient implementation of the ‘will’ of political leadership and the sustained enforcement of our rights and obligations in society, have over the years, imparted legitimacy and an instrumental credibility as well to the institution known as civil services.

A competent and well-trained institution of civil services characterized by high level of honesty, integrity, objectivity and dynamism inter alia provides a conducive environment for the ‘multi-faceted’ growth and development of the entire society. That is why it has always been a constant concomitant of all political systems of one and other kind irrespective of the changing context of time and space. The last few decades have witnessed a sort of ‘paradigmatic shift’ in the course of evolution of mankind, spearheaded by an ‘over- arching’ influence of IT revolution and the forces of globalization. Consequently, today we are living in a mutually influencing construct of values and principles in a so-called global village which has ‘drastically’ altered the environmental setting of Civil Services in terms of new challenges as well as opportunities. 






The consistently increasing needs and aspirations of modern consumptive society and scorching challenges of ensuring distributive justice without undermining the core principles of market based economy, reflecting concern for age old values in the face of unavoidable factual realities, maintaining objectivity with humane orientation, reconciling development with environmental consideration, enforcing equality before law amid the existence of powerful vested interests, all put together, have significantly expanded the operational horizon of modern civil services. Yet, every new challenge comes with an often-invisible opportunity to learn and excel. The ‘mind boggling’ increase in the burden of civil services has correspondingly led to expansion in the spectrum of their jurisdiction which encompasses quasi legislative, quasi-judicial and regulatory authority as well.

Therefore, a career in civil services comes with a blend of numerous challenges and a rare opportunity to make a meaningful and decisive intervention in the life of people to make it more livable. It is not enough to learn and clear the examination like tens of hundreds do every year. Take it as a mission to initiate change, a positive change for those who need the helping hand of yours the most by making a judicious use of your authority, skill, dynamism and personal endurance.

‘To aim high and fail is forgivable, to aim low is not’.

Therefore, set your goals high, keep free from all the disabilities of the past, unify your body, soul and mind and move ahead with a missionary zeal. The principle of rocket science here converges with behavioral science that is “he who has to go higher must keep lighter”. 

The history of mankind is replete with ‘jaws dropping’ achievements scripted by those who were only a man among…………………………………………………...to begin with. You also belong to the same fraternity, and you can do it too. From the innermost fiber of my soul, I wish you all the best.

 

Sajjan Pratap Singh

Director, IIIASA