Laxmikanth Test: Other Constitutional Dimensions- 2 - UPSC MCQ

• Such a resolution in the Rajya Sabha should be supported by two-thirds of the members present and voting.
• This power of recommendation is given to the Rajya Sabha to protect the interests of states in the Indian federal system.

A Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose referred to the recommendations of the Hota Committee (2004) and the Santhanam Committee report (1964), which highlighted ‘the necessity of recording instructions and directions by public servants.

• The All-India Services are controlled jointly by the Central and state governments.
• The ultimate control lies with the Central government while the immediate control is vested in the state governments. Any disciplinary action (imposition of penalties) against these officers can only be taken by the Central government.
• The personnel of Central services works under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Central government.
• They hold specialized (functional and technical) positions in various departments of the Central government.
• The personnel of state services works under the exclusive jurisdiction of the state government. They hold different positions (general, functional, and technical) in the departments of the state government.
• However, they occupy lower positions (in the administrative hierarchy of the state) than those held by the members of the All-India Services (IAS, IPS, and IFS).

The proceedings of the Supreme Court are in English. It is not allowed constitutionally to use any other language for hearing appeals.

Originally, it had 14 languages but presently there are 22 languages.

• They are: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri (Dongri), Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithil (Maithili), Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
• English is not recognized under the 8th schedule, even though it is the official language of India.
• Sindhi was added by the 21 st Amendment Act of 1967; Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali were added by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992; and Bodo, Dongri, Maithili, and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

• The eighth schedule of the Constitution recognizes about 22 languages.
• Two tribal languages, Bodo and Santhali are recognized by the Constitution. Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia, and Malayalam are the classical languages as per the status accorded by the Government of India.
• The constitution, thus, recognizes both classical and non-classical languages. Both A and R are incorrect.

• As per the constitution, a civil servant cannot be dismissed or removed by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed. Since the Central government makes their appointment on the warrant of the President, they cannot be removed by anyone other than the President.
• However, the All-India Services are controlled jointly by the Central and state governments.
• The ultimate control lies with the Central government while the immediate control is vested in the state governments.
• Any disciplinary action (imposition of penalties or removal or reduction in rank) against these officers can only be taken by the Central government.

UPSC only certifies eligible candidates. The appointment is done by DoPT (Government of India). Service Conditions of AIS are determined by the Parliament. Members of AIS cannot be removed by an authority subordinate to the one that appointed it. President appoints members of AIS. So, they cannot be removed by the Prime Minister.

Political neutrality of civil servants has been regarded as one of the cardinal conditions for the success of a democratic government.

• If they are engaged in political activities, it violates the above principle. They cannot contest Lok Sabha or State assembly elections.
• Civil servants are not allowed to criticize the government on social media or the press. These do not apply in general.
• They do enjoy a right to vote as is the right of every voter in India.
• Striking by civil servants constitutes a disciplinary offense.

• Article 310 essentially conveys that civil servants of the Union hold office during the pleasure of the President, and those at the state at the pleasure of the Governor.
• Article 311 conveys that they cannot be removed by an authority subordinate to the one that appointed them and that due inquiry must be conducted where they are allowed to hear charges against them and defend themselves appropriately.