Privileges Committee to hear complaints against IAS officer, police officer of Karnataka

Karnataka Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader

Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U. T. Khader referred complaints related to ‘insulting’ Congress member Raju Kage (Kagwad constituency) by Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria and BJP member Basavaraj Mattimud (Gulbarga Rural constituency) by Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannavar to the Privileges Committee of the House.

Raju Kage raised the issue related to insults meted out to him by IAS officer Rajender Kumar Kataria while discussing the development work in his Kagwad constituency in Belagavi district.

Mr. Khader condemned the IAS officer’s attitude towards the MLA and said the officer had shown disrespect towards the entire House. He referred the matter to the Privileges Committee for further action against Mr Kataria.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok, Arvind Bellad, Basanagouda Patil Yatal (all BJP) condemned the IAS officer’s attitude and demanded stern action. Mr Yatnal demanded transfer of the officer to Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Basavaraj Mattimud said that Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannavar had shown disrespect to him, and demanded action against the police officer.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil tried to provide ‘natural justice’ to both officials by summoning them to the Speaker’s chamber to discuss the issue.

However, the Speaker said, “The officials are government servants, and they should know how to respect legislators.” He referred both complaints to the Privileges Committee.