The Hindu : Front Page : CAG seeks action against ‘intruders’

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Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009
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CAG seeks action against ‘intruders’

G. Anand

At AG’s office in the capital

Cites DYFI ‘action’ at AG’s office on March 2 last
Public entry to the office only from
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Thiruvananthapuram: Controller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai has requested Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to instruct the State police to book persons who disrupt work inside the Accountant General’s (AGs) main office in the city and its branches in the State.

In his letter, the CAG said that on March 2, 2009, some persons had “forcibly entered” the AG’s office here. They were part of a group of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) workers staging a demonstration outside on an issue unrelated to the AG’s office.

He said the police posted at the gate were not even aware of the intrusion till the AG’s office alerted them. The group tried to force their way into the AG’s room, banged at his door and shouted slogans. The AG contacted police officers and the police later removed the men.

He said such incidents exposed life and public property to serious risk and undermined the morale of the staff of public offices “such as ours.” It is “disconcerting” that the intrusion was the second incident of its kind in the AG’s office in the past one year. In 2008, a group, taking advantage of a general strike, entered the AG’s branch office in Kottayam and forced the staff to abandon work.

Restricted by court

Some AG’s office staff associations had on several occasions brought outsiders, including political leaders, on the office premises, he said. Later, the court restricted the associations from holding demonstrations on the office campus. Mr. Rai said he had also warned the associations from agitating within the office premises.

The CAG said he would “be grateful if Mr. Achuthanandan can instruct the police to ensure that such incidents are prevented.” Those involved in such acts should be brought to book, he said.

Security tightened

Since last month, the public is being admitted into the AG’s office only from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. They have to furnish proof of identity and state their purpose of visit at the gate. The AG’s office was forced to take such security measures because of the frequent entry of “outside elements” into its precincts resulting in disruption of work and raising fears of sabotage, official sources said.

The AG’s office handles the provident fund matters of more than three lakh State government employees and a similar number of pensioners. Nearly 400 of them visit the office daily.

Corrections and Clarifications

Mr. Vinod Rai is the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. A report "CAG seeks action against 'intruders'" (Thiruvananthapuram, April 22, 2009, page 1) had it as Controller and Auditor General of India.

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