Rayagada collector bars officials from meeting for coming late

Bhubaneswar: Rayagada collector Ashutosh Kulkarni on Monday barred around a dozen govt officials from entering the meeting hall after they arrived late for the weekly joint public grievance redressal meeting.The meeting was scheduled to start from 10 am. Kulkarni reached the venue on time, and members of the public were present for the grievance hearing. However, 12 officials arrived after the scheduled start time. The collector instructed staff at the venue to stop them from entering the hall.It was the first public grievance meeting of the new year. Denied entry, the officials waited in a room adjacent to the meeting hall while the proceedings continued.

“I reached the meeting hall at 10.15 am. While I tried to enter the hall, a security staff requested me not to enter, as the collector had denied permission to those coming late to attend the public grievance meeting,” said a senior govt official, requesting anonymity.People attending the meeting said the move was intended to reinforce punctuality and discipline in official engagements. “If govt officials come late to a public meeting, what message does it send to people? Officials should maintain punctuality,” said an attendee.

The weekly joint public grievance redressal meeting is held to hear complaints and petitions from residents and to ensure timely action by departments concerned. Officials from various govt offices typically attend to respond to issues raised by the public and to co-ordinate follow-up measures.No official statement was issued on whether any further action would be taken against the latecomers. Contacted, the district collector declined to comment on the matter.