Decline in Collective Responsibility

Oinam Nabakishore Singh *

Over the last few decades, a growing Centralization of power of governance in one or a few individuals has been noticed. Sometimes one forgets the saying, “With power comes responsibility”. What is seen in the governance at Delhi is shadowed at Imphal. A keen observer of the working of the State Cabinet System in Manipur would have seen that more power was concentrated in Chief Minster.

In his previous terms, Shri N Biren Singh as an MLA and Minister during the regime of Congress in the State, would have experienced the concentration of power in the hands of then Chief Minister, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh.

In an interview with Phillips, Editor of ISTV, Shri Biren Singh expressed his experience of frustration when MLAs had to wait for about six/seven days to meet Chief Minister, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh, when they were together in Indian National Congress. The lessons learnt from his former boss was not lost. It does not take much time for him to not only exercise his power as Chief Minister, but also to encroach upon the realms of his Cabinet Ministers.

Being at the mercy of Chief Minister, all other Cabinet Ministers had to bear with demand of the Chief Minister in matters like recruitment and award of work contracts in their respective departments. Grudging murmurs against the Chief Minister were heard from some quarters.

IAS officers who are assigned to work as Chief Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary or Commissioner or Secretary to the State Government of Manipur have mostly learnt the art of saying what his Minister, especially, Chief Minister wants to hear. Those who dare to be open and straightforward are sidelined from mainstream administration by assigning them insignificant departments.

Some such officers are the last choice for Ministers to work with. Nowadays IAS officers have learnt to go the extra mile to be in good books of Ministers. Self-interest is at the centre of process of decision making by one and all, which is quite unfortunate. When such a situation prevails, the interest of the State and Nation takes a back seat.

In the context of the ongoing conflict in Manipur, many critics put the blame of failure of administration on the former Chief Minister, Shri N Biren Singh. One may raise a question as to whether he is solely responsible for the failure or should others like Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary and other officers especially DGP, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest too share the blame.

While it is difficult to apportion the blame in the absence of the report of the Commission of Enquiry set up by the Supreme Court of India, one may be tempted to ask if the decisions related to destruction of poppy plants, declaration of 38 villages in Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest as illegal, eviction of sixteen houses of K Songjang village in Noney District and efforts of detection of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, and silence of the State Government over the Judgment of Manipur High Court on the recommendation for inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes were taken solely by Shri N Biren Singh as Chief Minister. Failure to consider consequences of action by the Government by all involved in decision making should make them culpable.

Whether other Cabinet Ministers agree or not with the decision arrived at a Cabinet meeting, they are required to support such decisions. Otherwise, they cannot continue to be Ministers under the Chief Minister. Principle of collective responsibility of the Cabinet to the Legislature requires all Ministers to be jointly and individually accountable.

It was evident that two Cabinet Ministers, Smt Nemcha Kipgen and Shri Letpao Haokip under Shri N Biren Singh should have had differences with several decisions taken by the Cabinet, although they did not come out openly against any such decisions.

It is also doubtful that, inspite of their continuation as Ministers till resignation by Shri N Biren Singh as Chief Minister on the 9th February, 2025, they were never a part of Cabinet meetings in the last about twenty-one months.

Further, it will be fair to conclude that all other Cabinet Ministers of Shri N Biren Singh were equally responsible for all acts of omission and commission, if any, in relation to the ongoing conflict, which were in pursuance of Cabinet decisions. Irrespective of legal validity of many decisions, one must not lose sight of humanitarian aspect when such decisions are implemented.

The eviction sixteen houses belonging to Kuki villagers from K Songjang village in Noney District on the 20th February, 2023 escalated the tension among the Kuki Chiefs and villagers. One may ask a question if the said eviction was a right step by the Government. It is a common sight for the tribal especially those belonging to Kukis to settle near the highway by moving away from their original area of habitation for the sake of convenience.

One also must not overlook the tradition of creation of new villages among the Kuki community. The protest on the 10th March, 2023 by the Kuki CSOs especially in Kangpokpi further widened the gap between the Government and Kuki community and sowed the seed for the conflagration on the 3rd May, 2023. One may ask if the Kuki-Zo Ministers and MLAs were on board when such a drastic action of eviction from a disputed forest was carried out by the State Government.

It is therefore all the more necessary to take the leaders of Kuki-Zo community into confidence while resorting to eviction of villagers without offering them an alternative accommodation. One may also ask a question to the then Chief Secretary and other high ranking officers if they offered any wise counsel to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues when decisions which would have far-reaching consequences were taken.

It may be difficult to uncover any record to the effect that officers were guided by their commitment to the Constitution of India. Nowadays, the so-called steel-frame of Government machinery in the name of bureaucracy has gradually corroded.

Convenience and comfort are the overriding consideration for the bureaucrats vis-à-vis their interaction with Ministers. In fact, many bright officers fail to discharge their duties in the best interest of the people they are supposed to serve.

One may get a little comfort now when Manipur is under the rule of President of India. It is expected that all members of the civil service in the State would play by the rulebook in their discharge of duties.

The challenges arising from the conflict should be addressed by one and all with the best of intention and efforts when President’s Rule present good opportunity for performance. Civil servants of all ranks and file will do well to follow the instructions of the Governor, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, in order to chip in their share for the welfare of all sections of the society.

It is time to leave old habits behind and give one’s best to bring the State back to the path of peace, growth and development.