Following the recent vigilance arrest of a young Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officer on bribery charges, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Odisha, has penned an open letter to all department colleagues.
In the letter, Dr. Padhee expressed deep pain and disappointment, reiterating the department’s strict “zero-tolerance” policy against corruption.
The letter referenced a recent oath of honesty and integrity taken across all state government offices to abstain from corrupt practices. This made the subsequent arrest of the ORS officer, Manisha Mishra, who is still undergoing their probationary training period—particularly shocking to the administration.
Dr. Padhee described the incident as highly shameful and condemnable, noting that it occurred despite repeated emphasis being placed on ethics, honesty, and integrity in government service.
Dr. Padhee emphasized that a government job is an opportunity to serve the public, not merely a means to earn a livelihood. He warned that a single corrupt official tarnishes the reputation of the entire department and severely erodes the public’s trust in the government administration.
The ACS sternly reminded employees that the department remains fully committed to its zero-tolerance policy, stating that strict disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from service, has been and will continue to be taken against those found guilty of corruption according to the law and service rules.
Alongside his stern warning, Dr. Padhee offered a personal pledge to uphold the highest standards of ethics, discipline, and integrity as the departmental secretary. He assured full support and protection from undue external pressure or malicious intent for all colleagues who perform their duties with truthfulness and dedication.
Concluding his letter, the ACS noted his strong belief that there are many honest, courageous, and dutiful officers in the department capable of bringing visible change to society. He reminded his colleagues that a clean conscience, self-respect, and a peaceful life hold far greater value than power or ill-gotten wealth acquired through dishonest means. He called upon all department personnel to introspect and take a pledge to build a clean, corruption-free, and public-centric department to positively change the public’s perception of the Revenue Department.
“Our conscience should be our guide, and public trust our greatest capital,” he wrote.
