On Thursday, two young officers from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) reportedly faced difficulties gaining access to the Lok Bhavan in Odisha, a situation later clarified by officials as stemming from a miscommunication.
According to insiders, the officers were present at the Lok Bhavan to assist with the visit of the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (PCCIT) for a courtesy meeting with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.
The officers were prevented from entering due to a lack of entry passes and were halted by security staff and the aide-de-camp (ADC). Reports indicate that the security personnel at Raj Bhavan contacted the police, leading to the officers being escorted to the Capital police station in a police vehicle.
A senior police official in Bhubaneswar stated, “The incident was a result of a miscommunication. Once the officers identified themselves, they were promptly allowed to leave. Additionally, no formal complaint was lodged against them, so no case was filed.”
D. Sudhakara Rao, the PCCIT, expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the incident in a letter to the commissioner-cum-secretary of the Governor. He raised concerns about the behavior of the security personnel and the ADC, asserting that the officers were performing duties under his direction.
In his correspondence, which was obtained by The Indian Express, Rao claimed that despite prior arrangements for the visit and the officers having informed the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the Governor and the ADC (Navy) of their presence, they were subjected to “unprovoked and atrocious treatment.”
Rao alleged that the ADC (Police) ordered their removal from the Lok Bhavan premises in a police vehicle, portraying them as “unauthorized entrants” despite their official status.
He further emphasized that while the officers were treated poorly, their support staff and drivers remained on-site without issue. Additionally, he noted that unfounded allegations regarding the officers’ sobriety were made, which were later disproved at the police station.
The PCCIT condemned the treatment of senior civil servants, stating that such actions are a disrespect to the dignity of their roles.
In response to inquiries, Roopa Roshan Sahoo, the commissioner-cum-secretary to the Governor, indicated that she would provide comments after further investigation into the matter.
Raj Bhavan later confirmed Rao’s visit on X, mentioning that he had a brief discussion with the Governor regarding tax administration and public service delivery.
Sujit Bisoyi serves as a Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, focusing on Odisha, with interests spanning politics, policy, and human interest stories. He can be found on Twitter at @bisoyisujit87.
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