Mysore/Mysuru: The simmering discontent between K.R. Nagar MLA S.R. Mahesh and Mysuru Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rohini Sindhuri came to the fore at a meeting of Karnataka Legislative Assembly’s Committee on ‘Papers Laid on the Table’ in city yesterday noon. Mahesh is the Chairman of the Committee and the meeting was held at Zilla Panchayat auditorium.
It all began when Rohini Sindhuri sought permission from the Chair and excused herself from the meeting as the agenda of the day did not pertain to her Office. Sindhuri, who was seated in the front row as there was no chair for her on the dais, introduced herself and said that the periodic or annual reports pertaining to the DC Office or any other related Departments were not pending. As such, she sought permission to leave as the issues listed on the meeting’s agenda did not relate to her Office.
As she was speaking, the MLA butted in and asked her to remove her mask as she was not clearly audible. “Your voice is not audible. Remove your mask and speak,” Mahesh said. Sindhuri retorted that it was not advisable to remove the mask and refused to do so. “We are not supposed to remove the mask as per COVID guidelines and I will not do it,” she said and again sought permission to leave the meeting.
Mahesh told her that the Committee was in the city on behalf of the Assembly Speaker and she, as the Deputy Commissioner of a District, was informed as per the protocol. “You were not invited to the meeting. We have informed you as per protocol and as you have served as a DC in other districts, you are aware of this. But we are happy you are here though it is not compulsory. Ensure that the proceedings of the meeting are not leaked to the media before the Committee submits its report to the Speaker. If Assistant Commissioner or Tahsildar is present in the meeting, they can give us information,” he said.
The MLA continued and raised the issue of violation of protocol and said that the district administration failed to follow the protocol by not welcoming the Committee members. “There are senior members in the Committee and the district administration (DC and City Police Commissioner) should have received them. Though the visit of the Committee was informed a week ago, the authorities did not welcome the Committee members,” Mahesh said.
At this point, other Committee members on the dais intervened and Mahesh told the DC that she could leave as there were no issues listed on the agenda which required the presence of the DC. “We have summoned the Corporation Commissioner to a related meeting and if your presence is required, we will ask you to come. If you have time, stay or else if you have some work, you can leave,” the MLA said.
Moments later, Rohini Sindhuri closed her diary, took her pen and left the meeting room. The entire episode was captured on camera and visuals of what transpired between the DC and the MLA went viral.
There was no need to show the arrogance and become a laughing stock in front of people Mr.Mahesh. How can any sensible person ask a person to open the mask and then speak. When the audio in the video played is clearly audible to us, why were you trying to provoke the DC?? It was childish on the MLA part.
This incidence clearly shows to what level some of our elected representative can stoop down to show their raw power. Was there a need to ask the DC to remove mask? It is a well known fact that all should wear mask and that too in a closed meeting place with many people.
Asking any one and that too the head of the district to remove mask in public is a blatant example of showing discourtesy not only to the officer concerned, but also lowering the dignity of the position held by the MLA. It has become an accepted practice on the part of some elected representatives to show disrespect to the officers in public meeting. It is high time whenever such treatment is doled out, we the public should protest. We should politely urge the leaders not to treat the officers in a degrading manner.
Even if the officer is guilty, he or she should be told in the private and not in the public. Even after such requests, they continue to act like that, public should leave the meeting in protest. Other officers also should also lodge their protest through official channels. In short there should be a movement to stop showing discourtesy to officials in public meetings.