Home Minister Araga Gyanendra. , Photo credit: The Hindu
With the two senior women bureaucrats involved in a public brawl, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gyanendra on 20 February expressed displeasure against their conduct and warned of action, citing violation of service rules.
The minister was referring to an exchange between Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation managing director D. Roopa, an IPS officer, and IAS officer Rohini Sindhuri, Muzrai division commissioner.
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He said, ‘We are not sitting silent, action will be taken against them. Both of them are behaving so badly that even common people do not speak on the streets. Whatever he has to do on his personal issues, he should behave in front of the media. The way they are doing it is not right,” MR. Gyanendra said.
Talking to reporters here, he said that people look up to IAS and IPS officers with great respect, but seeing their behavior and conduct, they are insulting and humiliating civil service officers.
“We have good officers in higher ranks, they run the state and the country, but there are some people who are giving bad name to the entire officer class, they should be punished. I have spoken to the DG.” (Director General of Police) and CS (Chief Secretary); The chief minister is also aware of it,” he said.
online dispute
Ms Roopa took to social media, accusing Ms Sindhuri of several “wrongdoings”.
He also made personal remarks accusing Ms Sindhuri of misconduct and released her personal photographs, alleging that these were shared by her with some male officers.
Terming the allegations as baseless, Ms. Sindhuri alleged that Ms. Roopa, who holds a responsible position, was making such comments against her out of personal hatred, and was behaving as if she had lost her mental balance.
Both have accused each other of violating civil service conduct rules, and they have brought this to the notice of the appropriate authorities.
Ms. Sindhuri has said that she will pursue legal and other action with the appropriate authorities for Ms. Roopa’s misconduct and criminal offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Noting that the officers were bound by the conduct rules, Mr Gyanendra said, “They have already been warned and as they are not stopping, the government will consider taking strict action.”
“He has named some ministers and the government, the chief minister is aware of all this, and he will take a tough decision,” he added.
Even before this, the two officers had publicly sparred, and had also been involved in separate controversies in their official capacities.