In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure…

Question

In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

An IAS officer applies Gandhi's trusteeship by treating public money, discretion and information as held in trust, using them transparently and for the poorest and future generations. The public trust doctrine in M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997) makes the state a trustee of natural resources.

**Introduction**

Gandhi drew trusteeship from the Isha Upanishad's "covet no one's wealth": wealth and power are held in trust for society. For an IAS officer, public money, discretion and information are such a trust, and fairness follows when they serve the people.

**Holding Public Resources and Power in Trust**

SKETCH: comparison | Owner vs Trustee Mindset
a: Owner mindset
b: Trustee mindset
- Power as privilege :: Power as trust
- Discretion for patrons :: Discretion for the last
- Secrecy :: Disclosure
- Outlays spent :: Outcomes delivered

1. **Public money as trust**: Open procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (2016) ensures no vendor is favoured.
2. **Reasoned discretion**: Recording reasons keeps choices non-arbitrary, which E.P. Royappa (1974) made the core of Article 14.
3. **Information for the people**: Proactive disclosure under Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 lets beneficiaries check fairness.
4. **No personal gain**: Declaring assets and conflicts under the AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968 keeps the trustee from becoming a beneficiary.

**Serving the Weakest and Future Generations as Trustee**

1. **Antyodaya targeting**: Gandhi's Talisman guides the Aspirational Districts Programme (2018), which focuses on 112 backward districts.
2. **Commons for posterity**: M.C. Mehta v. Kamal Nath (1997) made the state trustee of natural resources, so an officer must refuse their private diversion.
3. **People as co-owners**: MGNREGA social audits, institutionalised by Andhra Pradesh's SSAAT, let villagers correct unfair exclusion, while CSR funds under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 can be aligned with district priorities.

**Conclusion**

Trusteeship turns an officer from ruler into guardian, using power openly and for the last person. That is the fairness the Constitution promises: governance as a trust honoured rather than an authority enjoyed.

In what ways can an Indian Administrative Officer apply Gandhi's notion of 'trusteeship' to ensure fairness in governance?

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