Raipur: An IAS officer has been given a dressing down by the Chhattisgarh government for wearing sunglasses and flashy clothes at an official function to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state last week.
Bastar collector Amit Kataria, an IAS officer of the 2004 batch from the Chhattisgarh cadre, was informed through an official letter that his actions did not conform to the All India Services (Conduct) Rules.
After becoming the Prime Minister, Modi made his first visit to Bastar’s strife-torn Dantewada district on May 9. He spent a few hours with tribal children in areas affected by left wing extremism and launched two major development projects.
The letter was issued to Kataria on May 13 by the special secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD).
During the event to welcome Modi, Kataria had shook hand with the Prime Minister.
“During the arrival of the Hon’ble PM you didn’t put on an appropriate conventional dress and were wearing sunglasses to welcome him (Modi),” the letter stated.
The official missive cited section 3(1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules of 1968 which says: “Every member of the service shall at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and shall do nothing which is unbecoming of a member of the service.”
The GAD said the state government has taken cognisance of Kataria’s “unacceptable” conduct. He was cautioned not to repeat such actions as they could be seen as a breach of decorum by an officer in the IAS.
A senior officer of the GAD, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The manner in which the officer presented himself was against the given rules. There are certain set conventions to be followed by civil servants as stipulated in the General Book Circular.
“There are dress codes for different occasions like ceremonial functions, attending the high court, VIP visits or even attending training at the (IAS academy in) Mussoorie.”
However, the GAD officer added that wearing sunglasses was not much of an issue.
Kataria declined to comment on the matter. "I received the letter from GAD today. But I have nothing to say on that," he told a english newspaper.
