Civic chief orders criminal action against corporators using abusive language

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: corporators

Over the past few days, some corporators and their close associates have been speaking to officers and employees in abusive language. In some cases, they have even used outright verbal abuse. Videos of threats to assault sanitation workers have been recorded and uploaded on social media. Fed up with the increasing bullying by corporators, the administration took a firm step on Monday. Municipal Commissioner G Sreekanth has ordered that if anyone uses abusive language or kicks open office doors to force entry, direct criminal proceedings will be initiated against them.

It has not even been a month since the newly elected corporators assumed office, yet they have already begun to intimidate the administration. Zone officers, deputy engineers and junior engineers are reportedly being treated in an extremely inappropriate manner. On just four issues, roads, water supply, drainage and waste management, the newly elected representatives have put significant pressure on officers and staff. Many first-time corporators are unfamiliar with the functioning of the municipal corporation and appear to believe that their word is law. In cases where a woman corporator has been elected, her husband is often handling the official work and has begun interfering in municipal affairs. Complaints regarding these matters have been reaching the administrator daily. Some officers and employees, frustrated by the harassment, have even expressed their desire to seek transfers to the municipal commissioner.

Commissioner’s instructions to officials

On Monday morning, the civic chief began reviewing departmental work with all heads of departments. During the review meeting, he strongly criticised the conduct of the newly elected corporators. He directed that if anyone engages in bullying or intimidation hereafter, a direct criminal case should be registered against them under Section 353.

--If an officer is unable to answer a corporator’s phone call, they should respond via message. If a corporator visits the office, they should be welcomed and their concerns heard properly.

--If any development work is halted merely on the instruction of a corporator or their relative, action will be taken against the concerned officer. Policy decisions will be taken after reviewing the status of the development work.

--Some corporators are using “Aurangabad”, some “Sambhajinagar”, and others “Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar” on their letterheads. To maintain uniformity, discussions will be held with the mayor.