Issue of lateral entry into civil services has always been a knotty one
constitutional mandates was also a concern that weighed heavily on the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) report of 2005 and is reflected in its 10th report titled — 'Refurbishing of Personnel Administration & Scaling New Heights'.
The report reads how (senior executive system) SES — a western model — that draws the best talent from both the public and the private sector has its advantages; it may also have 'disadvantages specific to India'.
Socio-cultural diversity apart, the report points to «the possible adverse impact of such recruitment (if done on a large scale) on the constitutional mandate for affirmative action as a result of the creation of a new recruitment channel at a senior level» besides conflict-of-interest concerns, lack of sufficient talent in the private sector and operational difficulties. Nevertheless, the Second ARC did recommend lateral entry from both — other services as well as private sector — preferably at no less than the additional secretary level for areas of expertise.
Incidentally, the first ARC of 1966 under chairmanship of Morarji Desai had also backed lateral entry for technical posts at the senior levels, with a caveat against arbitrariness and the pre-condition that such entrants come with capabilities that are not available within the Civil Service.
«This must be ensured because the selections would be ad hoc and even an inadvertent error or a tinge of arbitrariness in selecting the right quality of personnel may well demoralise serving personnel to an extent
