In the 'grand festivals' of Indian democracy—our elections—a specific scene unfolds during the filing of nomination papers that raises several moral and ethical questions.
A candidate, who represents thousands of people and is journeying toward the power of legislation, stands with folded hands, bowing before a government official’s desk.
Meanwhile, the official receives the papers while remaining seated. What kind of ethics is this?
One must ask: Is this merely an administrative procedure, or is it a calculated display of bureaucratic dominance?
The "Judge" Complex
Election officials often conduct themselves as if they are 'judges' presiding over a courtroom. Even in a court of law, a lawyer is required to stand only during the specific moments of argument; otherwise, seating is provided for all.
However, in the election office, a candidate—who is set to become the voice of hundreds of lakhs of people—is not offered even a single chair. Keeping them standing is an act that undermines the very dignity of democracy.
Who is Supreme in a Democracy?
To understand this disparity, we must look at the roles involved:
•The Educated Official: IAS officers and government authorities have earned their positions through competitive exams and appointments. They are 'Public Servants'—individuals paid by the taxpayers’ money to serve the citizenry.
•The People’s Representative: Candidates come carrying the mandate of the people and the weight of popular sovereignty.
When a servant remains seated while the representative of the people’s sovereignty is forced to stand, it exposes a deep-seated superiority complex within the bureaucracy. It sows a dangerous seed in society: the idea that "appointed officials are superior, and elected representatives are beneath them."
Equality: The Core Ethics of Democracy
Democracy is built on the foundation of equality. To restore balance, we must consider two fair alternatives:
1.If the official remains seated while receiving the nomination, an equal seat must be provided to the candidate.
2.Or, as a mark of respect to the people's mandate, the official should stand while receiving the papers.
Ignoring these options and making a candidate feel like a 'supplicant' or 'beggar' is nothing more than a colonial hangover—a remnant of the era when the British treated Indians as subjects rather than citizens.
Conclusion
A candidate bowing before an official’s desk is not an insult to that specific individual; it is an insult to the lakhs of voters waiting to elect them.
People’s representatives are not subordinates to the bureaucracy. This "Manu-Dharma" of administrative hierarchy must change. The true masters of a democracy—the people and their representatives—must be treated with the respect they deserve within our election offices.
— Ooran
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