'Dabang' IAS officers rebuked for dress code violation during PM visit

Two IAS officers of Chhattisgarh one of whom who wore sunglasses while receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit last week have been pulled up by the state government for violation of dress code and protocol.

The state government slapped notices on Bastar collector Amit Kataria and Dantewada collector K C Devsenapati, who had  received Modi during his visit to the state on May 9, with a warning that they should follow "proper dress code" in future.

Kataria was rebuked for wearing sunglasses and blue shirt while receiving the Prime Minister. Devsenapati earned the ire of the government as he had worn a white shirt and trousers during his meeting with Modi.

The officers are supposed to be dressed in 'Bandhgala' on such occasions as they are representing the state government in the district.

The government action came in for criticism by the Congress party.

"What's wrong? It was to beat the sun," said Congress leader and lawyer Vivek Tankha on Kataria being pulled up for wearing sunglasses.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, however, defended the action, saying it is a lesson in protocol for the officers.

"It is a common convention that the new collector is warned and made aware about the protocol during the prime minister's visit," Singh said.

In a warning letter issued to Kataria, a 2004 batch IAS officer, the state government said while receiving the Prime Minister on May nine "it has come to notice that you were not wearing a proper dress and had also put on sunglasses".

The letter said that it was in violation of section 3 (i) of All India Services (Conduct) Rules which says that every member of the services shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the service.

The state government "warns you" that in future there should be no violation of laid down norms and protocol, the letter said.

The two collectors should have followed proper dress code while receiving the PM, special secretary for general administration department D D Singh told PTI in Raipur on Friday.

Singh said that on getting information about the matter, the department issued notices to both the collectors and asked them to adhere to dress code in future.

He said a similar notice has also been issued to Dantewada collector Devsenapati and he too has been asked to adhere to the rules in future.

Congress leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi said the two officers should have been cautious.

"I have remained as the district head for the longest period in India. When the chief minister and prime minister were there, he should have been cautious. But he was on field duty and there was no official meeting. Both the officers are newly-appointed and both of them are good. There is a good common belief about them and they are hardworking at th same," Jogi, a former IAS officer said.