Srinagar, Oct. 19 -- When senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan allegedly abused and threatened JKAS officer Beenish Wani, the controversy raised questions far beyond professional misconduct - especially a disturbing one: Who gave one category of civil servants the impression that they are inherently superior to others?

An IPS officer commands police personnel, an engineer builds infrastructure, a doctor saves lives, and a forest officer protects natural resources. Yet our administrative system frequently places generalist IAS officers in positions of authority over specialised services. The IAS officer has been projected as one magic potion for all societal ills.

Why? Is an IAS officer necessarily more knowledgeable, competent, or des...