Q. “Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherance of the rule of law.” Examine the significance of constitutional morality for public servant highlighting the role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration.

Model Answer:

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar viewed constitutional morality as a cultivated reverence for constitutional principles, guiding public servants beyond mere statutory compliance toward ethical administration.

Significance for Public Servants

• Ethical Compass: Resolves administrative dilemmas by prioritizing constitutional values over personal or political biases (e.g., upholding secularism).
• Minority Protection: Safeguards fundamental rights against populist or majoritarian pressures (e.g., applying Navtej Johar principles).
• Transformative Constitutionalism: Drives civil servants to actively dismantle systemic inequalities (e.g., proactive SC/ST welfare schemes).

Role in Good Governance & Accountability

• Curbing Arbitrariness: Enforces the strict Rule of Law over arbitrary discretion, ensuring impartial service delivery.
• Enhancing Answerability: Compels administrators to respect democratic oversight mechanisms (e.g., proactive RTI disclosures, CAG audits).
• Public Trusteeship: Fosters financial and moral integrity, preventing corruption and ensuring optimal resource use (e.g., Ashok Khemka’s anti-corruption stance).
• Citizen-Centricity: Aligns bureaucratic action with constitutional guarantees of human dignity and liberty (e.g., Article 21).

Ultimately, constitutional morality acts as the ultimate “inner check” for civil servants, transforming the rigid bureaucratic apparatus into a responsive engine of inclusive, ethical governance.