Even as cases of suicide by officials owing to alleged harassment by their higher-ups continue to plague the government, JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy has fired another salvo.
He has held the government responsible for “harassment” meted out to Shashikala S. Wodeyar, a gazetted officer in the Department of Excise.
Citing the first information report (FIR) filed in Kalaburagi in April in connection with alleged harassment by Joint Commissioner, Excise Department, at Kalaburagi, S. Srinivasamurthy, Mr. Kumaraswamy said Ms. Wodeyar was being harassed for refusing to “listen to him and co-operate.”
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“When she put her foot down and refused to act according to Srinivasamurthy’s wishes, he withdrew the official vehicle given to her and began ill-treating her,” he alleged.
“After Ms. Wodeyar’s complaint, Srinivasamurthy was transferred to Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s constituency,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said, and added that she had taken up the issue with the Excise Commissioner, but did not receive any response.
Meanwhile, Mr. Srinivasamurthy approached the court seeking that the FIR be quashed. The court asked the government to send an official to inquire into the allegation.
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“Ms. Wodeyar told me that even the official sent asked her to write what he dictated. Ms. Wodeyar dared to oppose a higher official since her husband is a district magistrate and has legal knowledge,” Mr. Kumaraswamy argued.
‘CM must resign’
Accusing the government of pushing lower-rung officials towards suicide, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he was continuously getting calls from “harassed” officials, after raising the issue of the Dy.SPs who were victims of the system. “Mr. Siddaramaiah, not Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, must resign for demoralising officials,” he said.