Legislative Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy on Monday referred a complaint by Basavaraj Horatti, Janata Dal (Secular) MLC, against Mundgod tahsildar to the Privileges Committee to verify whether the conduct of the official amounted to breach of privilege granted to Mr. Horatti as legislator.
Simultaneously, the State government has suspended the official, Narayan Rao, pending a departmental inquiry, while taking serious exception to his alleged rude behaviour with the Council’s senior-most member.
Mr. Horatti alleged that the tahsildar, who had taken over as the administrator of an educational institution after superseding it, had been rude with him for calling him up on the telephone regarding non-payment of salaries to some teachers working there.
“He asked me not to call him again. Later, he told the teachers that he would not release their salaries if they continue to take up the issue through me,” Mr. Horatti said.
Pointing out that he had also taken up the issue with Ministers H.K. Patil and R.V. Deshpande, the legislator alleged that the tahsildar had told the teachers that he would not release their salaries even if they ask these Ministers to call him.
Terming this as an act of stopping him from discharging his duties as a legislator, Mr. Horatti appealed to the chairman to allow him to move a privilege motion against the official.
Other Opposition members, including Leader of the Opposition D.V. Sadananda Gowda and JD(S) Floor Leader M.C. Nanaiah endorsed his view.
