Odisha IAS body accuses Dharmendra of targeting officers

Bhubaneswar: An association of IAS officers in Odisha on Tuesday accused Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of personally targeting a senior officer during the inauguration of the National Data Centre of NIC.

Submitting a memorandum to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, it demanded that the matter be taken up at the “appropriate level” to avoid repeat of such incidents.

It also strongly condemned such incidents and stands by all the state government employees facing such situations.

The IAS body alleged that Pradhan in his speech during the inaugural ceremony of NIC’s Data Centre in Bhubaneswar had targeted IT Secretary, Ashok Meena on Monday.

It said that recent episodes in the state and other parts of the country wherein officers, while discharging their professional duties, have been personally attacked by senior members of political executive was a direct attempt to defy constitutional values.

“A case in point is the incident which took place yesterday, i.e. May 28, 2018 at the inauguration of the National Data Centre of NIC, Bhubaneswar, wherein the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas personally targeted a senior IAS officer of the state government, who was attending the function on invitation,” the memorandum said.

It alleged that several such incidents have also been reported by the field functionaries and this has vitiated the working atmosphere with a demoralising effect on the officers and employees of the state government.

The memorandum also mentions, “In a democratic polity, division of powers between the political executive and the permanent executive is the bedrock of the administrative framework. Both the organs have to work in tandem to achieve the objective of creating maximum good for the maximum people and in doing so should be guided only by the ideals enshrined in the Constitution.”

“This harmonious relationship has existed since independence till date and is one of the greatest strengths of our democracy. Constitution of India provides adequate safeguards to ensure that both the wings of the Government enjoy the powers defined within the jurisdiction and do the same with dignity. Mutual respect and confidence on each other further strengthens the relationship and also the efficacy of the system to deliver,” said the memorandum.