BHUBANESWAR: Members in the Assembly cutting across party lines on Thursday came down heavily on officials at the State and district levels for not giving due respect to elected people’s representatives in violation of rules.
The issue, raised by Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra, was supported by State BJP president K V Singhdeo and several BJD members, including Amar Prasad Satpathy and Jiban Pradip Das. Citing an instance, Mishra alleged that Sundargarh SP refused to meet Congress MLA Jogesh Singh despite his all out efforts. “Singh was told that as the SP was busy in recruitment of constables, he could not meet the MLA,” Mishra pointed out, expressing anguish over the attitude of officers towards people’s representatives.
Stating that the Book Circular-47 of Parliamentary Affairs department clearly says officers must respect people’s representatives and hold talks with them for implementation of programmes, the Congress leader alleged that senior officers like District Collectors and SPs do not pay any heed to the rules.
He alleged that there is no response to letters written by him to the Chief Minister and ministers. When he writes to Secretary of any department, the reply comes from a Deputy Secretary, Mishra said and added that ministers also do not respond to queries of MLAs raised through special mention in the House.
Expressing concern over the matter, he demanded a ruling from Speaker Niranjan Pujari. Singhdeo also demanded a ruling from the Speaker in this regard and said the matter should be referred to the Ethics Committee of the House.
Requesting the Speaker to intervene, senior BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy said officials at the district level are not aware about the circular of Parliamentary Affairs department. His party colleague Jiban Pradip Das criticised the attitude of officers towards elected representatives.
The Speaker in his ruling said the Ethics Committee of the Assembly would examine the allegation against Sundargarh SP. Pujari also asked the Government to reply to queries of MLAs raised through special mention within 48 hours in the House.