The Tamil Nadu Revenue Officers' Association has sought action against Sivakasi Revenue Divisional Officer K. Kombaiyan for his “wrong decision” that led to the fire accident near Sattur on August 10, claiming the lives of eight police and revenue personnel.
A majority of the staff members of the Revenue Department walked out of their offices in Virudhunagar district on Tuesday, demanding the immediate transfer of the RDO, who led the team of officials in the raid against illicit crackers.
The association members will stage dharna at Sivakasi on Wednesday to highlight their demands, including enhanced compensation for the kin of those who died in the accident, said P. Pitchappa, the Association's district president.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has announced solatium of Rs.5 lakh to each affected family. The association demanded Rs.20 lakh.
Revenue officials in Virudhunagar district have decided to boycott works that were “dangerous” and “unrelated to the Revenue Department,” such as raids on illicit cracker units and against smuggling of rice and sand.
“We are not trained in handling explosives. We will limit our role to inspecting the licensed cracker units. Let officials from the Department of Explosives… raid the illicit units,” a revenue official said.
The raids against smuggling of ration rice should be done only by the Food Cell police.
Demanding an enquiry by a High Court Judge, the Association said it was opposed to the District Revenue Officer enquiring into the accident. As instructed by District Collector V. K. Shanmugam, DRO B. Ganesan began an enquiry on Monday.
The Association also sought to expedite the process of providing employment for the legal heirs of the dead. It resolved to contribute three days' salary to the families of the dead officials from the Revenue Department.
Construction of a pillar in memory of the dead on the Collectorate premises and observing August 10 as black day were its other demands.
