The Hindu : Row over civic official's transfer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Row over civic official's transfer

By Our Staff Reporter

Rajahmundry Dec. 9. The issue of transfer of the Deputy Commissioner, David, rocked proceedings of the emergency meeting of the Municipal Corporation here on Monday.

The emergency meeting was convened to review the progress of Pushkaram works.

Members of the Congress headed by its leader, K. Seshayya, sought to know why Mr. David was relieved violating assurances of both the Mayor, M.S. Chakravarthy and the Standing Committee Chairman, M. Venkatanarayana, that the transfer would be postponed till March. The Mayor was in the Chair.

Certain Dalit organisations had started an agitation protesting against the transfer of Mr. David.

It was called off after the Mayor and the Chairman promised to see that Mr. David was retained till March next. But he was relieved a week ago and the new Deputy Commissioner, Nagendra Kumar, assumed charge.

A verbal duel ensued between the TDP and Congress members over the issue.

The Mayor said he had only assured to "try his level best to postpone the transfer" since actual transfers were done by the departmental heads at Hyderabad and not by the corporation.

The Mayor informed the Congress members that he had also spoken to senior officers. When the Congress members wanted to know under what circumstances Mr. David was transferred, the Commissioner T.S.R. Anjaneyulu, stating the rule position, said if an officer -- Nagendra Kumar -- is transferred to Rajahmundry Corporation and he submits his joining report to the officer concerned (Commissioner), the other officer (Mr. David), in whose place the new officer has been posted, is deemed to have been relieved.

Not satisfied, the Congress floor leader wanted the protest of the party corporators to be recorded. The Congress corporators, Barre Kondababu, and S. S. Subrahmanyam, said the episode amounted to denigrating the self-respect of Dalits who staged a protest against the transfer.

Later, when discussions on the Pushkaram works of Pushkaram were taken up, the meeting was informed that in all works to the tune of Rs. 46 crores were proposed and the Government had accorded sanction for 475 works. Tenders had been called for 185 works costing Rs. 35 crores.

The Mayor informed that works were categorised as A (Pushkaram works) and B (ward-wise development works).

The meeting was also informed that the assistant engineers of the corporation were instructed to consult the corporators concerned while prioritising works.

However, some corporators like Mr. Seshayya said he was not consulted by the AE while finalising works in his ward.

Earlier, the newly elected corporator from 39th ward, Allu Chandra Jyothi, was administered the oath of office by the Mayor.

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