Q.14. What are the seven principles of public life? Are they codes of conduct for civil servants? Evaluate.

The Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles, are a set of ethical standards expected of public office holders in the UK. They were established by Lord Nolan in 1995 and are applicable to anyone who works as a public office-holder, including those elected or appointed to public office, civil servants, and individuals in sectors delivering public services. These principles are:

1. Selflessness: Public office-holders should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity: They must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organizations that might inappropriately influence them in their work.
3. Objectivity: Decisions must be made impartially, fairly, and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability: Public office-holders are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the necessary scrutiny.
5. Openness: They should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner.
6. Honesty: Public office-holders should be truthful.
7. Leadership: They should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and actively promote and robustly support the principles.

These principles serve as a framework for the behaviour expected of public office-holders and are included in various codes of conduct across public life. They are not, in themselves, a code of conduct but are often incorporated into the formal codes of conduct for civil servants, which outline specific behaviours and obligations required of civil servants in their professional duties.

Civil servants are also governed by specific conduct rules, such as the Central Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1964, in India, which cover a wide range of issues and outline the expected behaviour and conduct of civil servants. These rules are more detailed and prescriptive than the Nolan Principles and are legally enforceable, with specific penalties for violations.

In evaluating the relationship between the Nolan Principles and codes of conduct for civil servants, it can be said that the principles provide a philosophical foundation for the codes of conduct. The codes of conduct translate these broad ethical principles into specific rules and guidelines that civil servants must follow. This ensures that the values embodied in the Nolan Principles are reflected in the day-to-day work and decision-making processes of civil servants, thereby promoting ethical governance and public trust.