Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.) : In his first interaction with officers of the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) after assuming office as the state's ninth Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari directed bureaucrats to function impartially, maintain political neutrality, and ensure that public services are delivered without favour or bias.

Addressing WBCS officers, the Chief Minister said his government would not use the administrative machinery for political purposes and stressed that bureaucrats should function as professional civil servants rather than political functionaries.

According to a senior bureaucrat who attended the meeting, Adhikari said the new government would not follow the administrative practices of the previous regime and instead aimed to establish a transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric governance model.

The Chief Minister made it clear that neither he nor his government believes in turning bureaucrats into political cadres. He emphasised that public services must be delivered fairly and without any political consideration, while bringing about a significant improvement in administrative functioning, the official said.

Adhikari also assured officers that his government would accord due professional respect and recognition to WBCS officers in accordance with their seniority and service record. He stressed the importance of maintaining professional standards and healthy administrative relations within the government.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister reportedly observed that several capable bureaucrats were unable to perform effectively under the previous administration due to undue political pressure. He urged officers to move away from past working practices and assured them that his government would remain open to constructive suggestions aimed at improving governance and accelerating the state's development.

The Chief Minister further indicated that promotions, recognition, and rewards would be based strictly on merit and performance rather than political considerations.

Adhikari also advised officers to exercise financial prudence while utilising public funds, directing them to avoid unnecessary and unproductive expenditure from the state exchequer.

Reiterating his government's commitment to clean administration, the Chief Minister instructed all WBCS officers to maintain the highest standards of integrity and remain completely free from corruption in matters involving public expenditure.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh