Odisha MLAs criticise bureaucrats for not respecting them

Cutting across party lines, members in Odisha Assembly today came down heavily on bureaucrats accusing them of not giving due respect to elected people's representatives in violation of rules.
The issue was raised by leader of the opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress during Zero Hour. Mishra's allegation was backed by both opposition BJP members and ruling BJD MLAs.
Citing an instance, Mishra alleged that Sundargarh superintendent of police refused to meet Congress MLA Jogesh Singh despite his all out efforts.
"Singh was told that since 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 that the officers must respect the 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.
Mishra said though he was accorded cabinet minister's status as the leader of opposition, he receives reply letters from the officers of deputy secretary rank and not the department secretaries. Even ministers also do not respond to the queries of the MLAs, he pointed out.
He demanded a ruling from the Speaker on this matter while BJD member J P Das also expressed anguish over the attitude of officers. Former minister and BJD spokesman Amar Prasad Satpathy, senior BJP member K V Singhdeo also demanded a ruling from the Speaker.

Speaker Niranjan Pujari in his ruling said the ethics committee of the Assembly would examine the allegation against the Sundergarh SP. Pujari also asked the government to reply to the queries of the MLAs raised through special mention within 48 hours in the House.