The Hindu : Protocol: Plaint sent to privileges panel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Protocol: Plaint sent to privileges panel

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore March 5. The Chairman of the Legislative Council, B.L. Shankar, today referred to the privileges committee a suo motu complaint by M.P. Prakash (JD-U) and M.R. Tanga (BJP) that officials of the Department of Minor Irrigation in Hadagali taluk of Bellary District had violated the protocol on inviting legislators to a function, and printing the names of people who had nothing to do with the function, including Congress workers, in the invitation.

Mr. Shankar told the Leader of the House, H.K. Patil, that it was a shame that even after 54 years of Independence, officials did not know the rules. He wanted Mr. Patil to direct the Chief Secretary to warn deputy commissioners, chief executive officers, and superintendents of police of that the House would take action against them for violation of protocol.

He said no officer, however highly placed, should be allowed to be the chief guest at a government function which was attended by a minister, a legislator, or a Member of Parliament.

They should also not be allowed to be present on dais in any capacity, he added.

Referring to the complaint referred to by Mr. Prakash under Rule 330, the Chairman told the member that he should send a notice on breach of privilege. However, he said he was referring it to the privileges committee to teach a lesson to the officials concerned.

He told the Government that no office-bearer of any political party should be invited or allowed to sit on the dais, as happened at the function at Hadagali, in which a large number of Congress workers participated.

Directive to be issued

Mr. Patil agreed to issue a directive to the Chief Secretary as desired by the Chairman. Mr. Prakash said he could not understand the rationale in printing the names of 49 people in an invitation. Dr. Tanga said his name was left out though he represented the area. K.C. Kondaiah (Congress), a member of the Privileges Committee, was unhappy that the officials had committed the mistake in spite of the directive to observe protocol.

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