What is meant by public interest? What are the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest?

Public interest is a broad, dynamic concept that refers to the welfare, well-being, and general good of the community as a whole and prioritizing collective benefits over individual or sectional advantages.

“A public official is a fiduciary of the public’s interest.” – Paul H. Douglas

Principles to be Followed in Public Interest

Maxim of utilitarianism – “greatest happiness of greatest number”

Selflessness- Prioritizing public gain over personal material benefits.

Integrity- Absolute consistency between one’s values and actions.

Objectivity- Making decisions based solely on merit, facts, and evidence. Eg- E. Sreedharan in awarding delhi metro projects

Accountability- Being answerable for the consequences of administrative decisions. Eg- Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning as Railway Minister following a major train accident.

Openness (Transparency)- Proactively sharing information to foster public trust. Eg- U. Sagayam (IAS) – 1st IAS office to declare his personal assets

Impartiality- Acting without bias toward any caste, creed, or political affiliation. Eg- T. N. Seshan as CEC

Empathy and Compassion- Sensitivity toward the plight of the marginalized. Eg- Prashant Nair’s “Operation Sulaimani” – Use of crowdsourced coupons to feed hunger

Commitment to Public Service- Viewing the job as a “mission”. Eg- Dr. Rajendra Bharud (IAS) setting up an oxygen plant in tribal Nandurbar before the second COVID wave

Leadership- Leading by example to uphold ethical standards. Eg- S.R. Sankaran – “an ideal people’s IAS officer” remained unmarried for service of nation

Courage of Conviction- Eg- Durga Shakti Nagpal (IAS) taking a firm stand against the powerful sand mining mafia in Noida.

Procedures to be Followed in Public Interest

Adherence to code of conduct and code of ethics

Adherence to the Rule of Law- Every decision must be rooted in constitutional or statutory authority

Due Process in Procurement- Eg- using GeM-Government e-Marketplace.

Public Consultation- Eg- “Gram Sabhas” or “Jan Sunwais” before major projects

Grievance Redressal Mechanisms- Eg- CPGRAMS

Recusal from Conflict of Interest

Evidence-Based Policy Making- Eg- GATI Shakti mission

These principles and procedures ensure that governance is not only efficient but ethical, humane and resilient.