Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Mar 6: 'What is this? Why these cupboards are haphazardly maintained? Are cupboards in your house maintained like these? Do you feel there is no one to supervise what you do? Give me list of applications received, disposed off, pending, etc'. As Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC), A B Ibrahim, paid a surprise visit to the taluk office and started posing a barrage on questions including the above ones to the employees working there, the personnel were seen confounded and groping for words, hanging their heads in shame.

When the DC raided the taluk office on Thursday March 5 morning, he seethed with anger at the sight of dusty tables, strewn around files, unkempt cupboards, improperly maintained registers and pathetic condition of the office, He upbraided the assistant commissioner, tahsildar, and other employees for their reckless attitude towards office maintenance. He gave them three days to set right the office that was in disarray, failing which he warned them of stringent action.

The DC visited individual employees at their tables, verified the files and registers at their disposal, and noticed that disorder and apathywere writ large everywhere. He questioned them as to why should they not be sent home, as they are anyway not doing what is expected of them. The sight of film of dust on electronic gadgets, corrugated boxes, and files lying around in the office made him to wonder whether this was a godown, remarking that not less than ten loads of waste was lying there. When assistant commissioner, Dr Ashok, and in-charge tahsildar, Muhammed Issac, tried to shield some employees who tried to give evasive replies about their irresponsibility, he questioned them as to whether they are keeping an eye on what their subordinates are doing.

He invited the three deputy tahsildars to the cabin of the tahsildar and took them to task. He reminded them that his office is yet to get details and replies relating to 66 files sought by it. 'I had repeatedly told the assistant commissioner and tahsildar to scientifically handle office work and maintain records. You do not seem to be listening to what your higher officials say. Are you superior officers to the assistant commissioner? I want details of pending files before Monday,' he said, adding that failure to stick to instructions may attract suspension from service. He asked them to make a list of unwanted items lying in the office and take steps to dispose them off.

When the media persons drew his attention to the allegations made by the local municipal councillors that the DC was responsible for pileup of garbage in the town, he ridiculed this claim by questioning as to whether he is responsible for everything from garbage disposal in Mangaluru and again in Bantwal. He added that a special meeting is being convened at 3 pm on March 7 to discuss this issue with officials of Mangaluru City Corporation and local municipal council.

Assistant commissioner, Dr Ashok, in-charge tahsildar, Muhammed Issac, deputy tahsildars, Parameshwar Naik, Bhaskar Rao, J D Rodrigues, Parameshwara Moily, Nadakacheri deputy tahsildars, and revenue inspector, Sadhu, were present.