Strict discipline marked the first district-level grievance hearing of the year in Rayagada as District Collector Asutosh Kulkarni barred officials who arrived late from entering the session.
The hearing began at 10 AM in the District Parishad Conference Hall. While the Collector arrived on time, several senior officials failed to arrive punctually. Observing the delay, the Collector instructed security staff not to allow latecomers inside. Even the Rayagada Sub-Collector was denied entry for arriving late.
Among those barred were the District Excise Superintendent, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, District Panchayat Officer, District Social Security Officer, District Welfare Officer, District Information and Public Relations Officer, Rayagada BDO, ACF of Forest Department, Rural Water Supply Officer, and several others.
Faced with the situation, the officials waited outside in the Innovation Cell adjacent to the hearing hall. Meanwhile, grievance hearings continued inside without their participation.
The Collector’s action created a sense of fear among the administrative ranks. However, many complainants supported the move, viewing it as a step toward accountability.
The state government, led by the BJP, has directed strict action against officials neglecting grievance hearings. The Collector’s decision aligned with this directive, reinforcing the priority given to public complaints.
The hearing lasted for over an hour, during which late officials remained outside. The incident highlighted the administration’s resolve to enforce punctuality and discipline in grievance redressal mechanisms.
