RIs made to do sit-ups for arriving late at meeting

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Kendrapara: The Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Kendrapara, Basant Kumar Rout’s rowdy act became a talk of the town Wednesday as the newly-joined officer allegedly directed two revenue inspectors (RIs) of Rajnagar tehsil to do sit-ups in presence of their colleagues for reporting late at a meeting.
Bikram Kumar Mallick, the district secretary of Odisha state non-gazetted revenue and field officers’ association, said Rout Tuesday visited Rajnagar tehsil office to attend an official meeting scheduled at 9 am. All seven RIs of Rajnagar tehsil had been asked to attend the meeting on time.
When the ADM reached the hall he found that only three of the seven RIs were present. Gupti RI Karunakar Mallick reached the venue 20 minutes late. The ADM asked Mallick to do five sit-ups at the meeting in front of his colleagues. Explanations by the RI that he got late as he had been on an official visit to Bagapatia rehabilitation colony did not cut ice with the ADM. Righagada RI Sarat Kumar Behera also faced the wrath of the ADM when he showed up at the meeting 30 minutes late. He was directed by the ADM to do 10 sit-ups.
“Though we informed the ADM that we were on official duty that got us late, he did not listen and ordered us to do sit-ups. As per his direction, we were forced to do sit-ups. The ADM even made casteist remarks to me,” Mallick alleged.”Since we were humiliated at the meeting place in front of our colleagues, we brought it to the notice of our association urging it to provide us justice,” Behera said.
The outfit placed a representation with the District Collector demanding action against the ADM. It has sought immediate transfer of Rout. When contacted, Rout said he asked RIs to do sit ups as they reached late. He, however, said the allegations of casteist remarks are purely false. He justified his action, saying it would help maintain discipline among officials.