Bureaucrat’s public conduct sparks outrage

An IAS probationer in Chhattisgarh has sparked massive public outrage when he conducted himself in a manner seen by some as “disgraceful” while inspecting the women and children’s ward of a community health centre (CHC) in the state.

Jagdish Sonkar, posted as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) at Ramanujganj in the north Chhattisgarh district of Balrampur, put his foot on the bedpost of a child patient while visiting the ward on Tuesday, leaving the medical staff present there shocked.

The babu, who, ironically, was a practising doctor before joining the civil service, appeared totally unconcerned that the shoe was pointing towards the ailing infant.

The shocking conduct of the young civil servant has provoked a strong reaction from chief minister Raman Singh, who directed the state chief secretary to issue a warning to him.

“I have asked the chief secretary to instruct the SDM to follow the protocol assigned for civil servants while conducting themselves in public,” Mr Singh said on Wednesday.

Former chief minister Ajit Jogi, an ex-bureaucrat, also took serious exception to the “disgraceful” manner in which the young IAS officer conducted himself.

He demanded exemplary punishment for him to ensure no such incidents recur in future in the state.

The babu is the third IAS officer in Chhattisgarh whose conduct was subjected to public scrutiny in recent times.

Former Bastar district collector Amit Kataria had stirred a row when he received Prime Minister Narendra Modi donning sunglasses, in violation of protocol, when the latter was visiting the area a couple of months ago.

Similarly, Balrampur district collector Alex Paul Menon, who had shot to national news after being held captive for almost a week by Naxals when he was heading the Sukma district administration four years ago, landed in a controversy by extending his support to JNUSU president Kanhaiya when the latter was in jail.