In a rare and dramatic show of solidarity, most IAS officers in the Uttarakhand Secretariat refrained from attending their offices on Friday, protesting the alleged manhandling of R Meenakshi Sundaram, the state’s Power Secretary, earlier this week. The protest follows an incident on Wednesday evening when local political leader Bobby Panwar allegedly attacked Sundaram in his office, triggering a scuffle that also involved Secretariat staff.
The majority of officers in the Uttarakhand Secretariat Employees Union supported the protest, though the Uttarakhand IAS Association did not officially announce a boycott. Informal comments from officials suggested widespread backing for the union’s decision, with officers voicing their discontent over the physical altercation and the perceived disrespect shown to an IAS officer on duty.
Incident Details:
The incident that sparked the protest occurred when Bobby Panwar, who leads the Uttarakhand Unemployed Association and has been outspoken about recruitment corruption within the state, allegedly confronted Sundaram. According to reports, Panwar became involved in a heated argument with Sundaram, which escalated to a physical altercation. Sources from the Secretariat claim that Panwar attempted to beat the Power Secretary with his shoes, but was stopped by Sundaram’s staff.
The altercation, which reportedly involved an exchange of verbal insults and fisticuffs, has stirred controversy, with union office bearers demanding that legal action be taken against Panwar for his alleged misconduct. The State Secretariat Employees Union has also been vocal in calling for strict security measures within the Secretariat, following the breach of decorum and alleged attack on an officer of the state government.
Union’s Response and Boycott:
Following the altercation, the Union of Secretariat Employees called for a boycott of work on Friday to express their anger and demand accountability. While there was no formal declaration from the Uttarakhand IAS Association, a number of senior officials and IAS officers expressed their support for the boycott informally.
“I will not come to the office today in support of the union’s call for a work boycott. Action must be taken against Panwar,” said an Additional Secretary in the Secretariat, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another officer echoed similar sentiments, saying, “You cannot expect the state IAS association to provide written reasons for keeping work off, but we support the call given by the State Secretariat Employees Union.”
IAS Association’s Stand:
Despite the boycott, Anand Bardhan, the President of the Uttarakhand IAS Association and Additional Chief Secretary, denied any official decision to abstain from work. “The IAS Association has not taken any decision to abstain from work in the secretariat. However, we have demanded legal action in the matter,” Bardhan said. The IAS Association delegation also met with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday, urging strict action against Panwar and a review of security protocols in the Secretariat.
Panwar’s Rebuttal:
In response to the allegations, Bobby Panwar has strongly denied the charges, stating that Sundaram’s version of events was untrue. Panwar claimed that his visit to Sundaram’s office was to inquire about the extension of service granted to the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) managing director, who faced multiple allegations but had been given an extension despite his retirement. “I went to meet Sundaram to inquire about the reasons for granting this extension, not for any personal gain,” Panwar stated. He further denied any attempt to ask for favors in exchange for government contracts or tenders.
Political Fallout and Next Steps:
The incident has sparked political debate in Uttarakhand, with opposition leaders calling for swift action against Panwar if the allegations are proven true. On the other hand, Panwar has continued to assert that the conflict stemmed from his concerns regarding administrative irregularities and not personal grievances.
As the protest continues, all eyes are on the Uttarakhand government and the Election Commission of India, which may be called to ensure the safety and integrity of the state’s administrative processes. The situation also highlights growing tensions between political leaders and bureaucrats, particularly regarding the autonomy and protection of senior government officials.
