Abide by Constitution, ministers will come and go: Prez

Ministers will come and go but civil servants should stick to the Constitution and their decisions should stand the test of reason, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.
Delivering his valedictory address at the 89th Foundation Course of civil servants at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration here, Mukherjee today said the ultimate objective of any civil servant is to serve this country as per the provisions of the Constitution which the people of this country have given to themselves.
The President said it is the job of the Government to formulate the policies, it is job of civil servant to implement the policies.

"Ministers will come and go. Their existence depends on the whims of the legislatures. Legislatures' existence depends on the limited period of five years or less than that on the vast multitude of voters...," he said in his address to over 200 young officers who completed their foundation course today.
Mukherjee who has over five decades of experience in public life advised the young officers completing their foundation course today to always be critical and analytical.
"Be rational in your approach. Do not indulge in any sorts of obscurities, ideas and whims which do not stand the test of the reason and logic," he said.

"We have committed Justice for all--political, social, economical; we have committed equality and liberty for all--equality of status and of opportunity. Liberty of faith expression and belief and worship...We have assured individual dignity, the unity and integration of this great country," he said referring to the Constitution.
Speaking at the academy which is nestled in queen of hills, Mukherjee asked the fresh officers to implement these "solemn assurances" given in the preamble of the Constitution during their service of 30-35 years or more.