Concept and Attributes of Public Service

Concept of Public Service

Public service refers to the work performed by government employees and officials who are responsible for delivering services and implementing policies that benefit the public. These services can include health care, education, social welfare, public safety, transportation, and environmental protection, among others.

The goal of public service is to promote the public good and to serve the needs and interests of the community as a whole. Public servants are accountable to the public and are expected to act in the public interest, often under the supervision of elected officials or independent regulatory bodies.

Public service is an essential component of democratic governance and is critical for the effective functioning of the state. Public servants are responsible for ensuring that government policies are implemented effectively, efficiently, and in a manner that is consistent with the rule of law and democratic principles.

In many countries, public service is a highly respected profession, and public servants are expected to adhere to strict standards of conduct and ethics. They are often required to undergo rigorous training and education to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their duties effectively and to meet the needs of the public.

Attributes of Public Service

The attributes of public service refer to the key characteristics that public servants should possess in order to effectively serve the public and promote the common good. Some of the important attributes of public service include:

• Accountability: Public servants are accountable to the public and must act in the best interests of the community. Integrity: Public servants must have high ethical standards and be committed to honesty, transparency, and impartiality.
• Commitment: Public servants should be dedicated to serving the public and committed to the mission of public service.
• Competence: Public servants should have the necessary knowledge, skills, and expertise to effectively perform their duties and provide high-quality services to the public.
• Objectivity: Public servants should be impartial and non-partisan, making decisions based on evidence, facts, and the law.
• Responsiveness: Public servants should be responsive to the needs of the public and be willing to listen to and engage with citizens and stakeholders.
• Professionalism: Public servants should conduct themselves in a professional manner and adhere to professional standards and codes of conduct.
• Collaboration: Public servants should work collaboratively with other agencies, stakeholders, and the public to achieve common goals and objectives.
• Innovation: Public servants should be willing to embrace innovation and new ideas to improve the delivery of public services and solve complex problems.

1. Moral and Legal Obligation: 

• A constitutional state has a moral and legal obligation to provide public service.
• This obligation arises from the social contract that binds citizens and the state.
• The constitution further establishes this obligation as a legal duty of the state.
• If the state fails to fulfill its obligation, the government has a moral responsibility to resign.
• Citizens have the moral and political duty to overthrow the government through democratic means if it fails to fulfill its obligation.

2. Sovereign Duty: 

• The social contract mandates that the state provides critical services, such as law and order, defense, etc., exclusively and without prejudice or discrimination.
• This means that police stations and courts should be present based on the population of the area, rather than the nature of its inhabitants.
• Deploying more police force in posh residential areas and neglecting slum inhabitants should be 

3. Monopoly of the State: 

• Public services are mostly and centrally provided by the state, especially in a socialistic setup.
• DPSPs (Directive Principles of State Policy) in the Indian Constitution direct the state to provide a range of public services to the citizens.
• Individual and Constitutional Morality:
• Public servants who deliver public services are driven by both individual and constitutional moral obligations.
• For example, a civil servant who takes action against the practice of untouchability in a certain area fulfills their constitutional obligation under Art17 but may also be driven by individual values of compassion, empathy, etc.

4. Public-Centric:

• Public service implies that services are provided based on the public’s needs, demands, interests, rights, and convenience.
• Several measures, such as Right to Information and Citizen Charters, have been initiated to ensure public centricity in public service delivery.
• Ensuring Collective and Individual Rights:
• Constitutionalism mandates the state to secure both individual and collective rights.
• For example, the right to freedom of expression (Art19) and the right to a clean environment (Art21) are individual and collective rights, respectively.
• Modern states ensure that these rights are protected through various mechanisms and timely interventions.

5. Maxim of Equity:

• Most welfare states prefer equity over equality in providing public service.
• It has been established that ensuring equity is necessary to achieve equality.
• For instance, under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), subsidized food is provided mostly to the economically vulnerable sections of society.

6. Lending Hand:

• Public service also works as an enabling factor for people to achieve other ends.
• For example, free education and health services provided by the government help build quality human capital, which in turn contributes to national development. avoided.