Who is responsible for subordinates’ mistakes?

Who is responsible for subordinates’ mistakes?

As per Medical Council of India Act, doctor in charge of a case is responsible for mistakes of his juniors and staff working under him.

The same is and should be applicable to any other profession. In the recent case of Pawan Bansal where one of his subordinates took a bribe on his name falls under the same category. The very fact that one of his staff  who happens to be his relative also was interacting with railway officers, it only means that railway officers were not given instructions by the Minister that no dealings should be done by his staff members without his knowledge by people who are near-dear to the minister.

I recall, a high court judge who on the day of his appointment called his friends and asked them that if they like to continue friendship with him then they will have to give an undertaking that they will not appear in his court as lawyer. And those who want to continue professional relationship in future will not attend any of his social or private functions and will not even send new year or Diwali greetings to him. He also had a meeting with his family and told everyone categorically that none of them should talk to him about any case till his tenure as high court judge is over.  He also gave instructions to his personal staff in the high court that they will not talk or entertain any work or request, if it comes from any of his friends or family members.

If a relative or a personal staff of any minister approaches to the high up officials of the ministry for any work, unless specifically instructed by the minister, they will presume that they have been approached with the consent of the minister as no one will dare to talk to CMD or a Chairman of a public sector undertaking with following words – “minister desires that the following may be done………………__” .

In this case, if Pawan Bansal is honest and not at mistake, still he has done a mistake of not informing the railway higher officials not to listen to relations or personal staff for works which can end up into corruption.