Complaint against 2 TSTDC officers for 'accompanying minister' in Tirumala

Telangana: The Election Commission of India has received a complaint that Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) officials Boinpally Manohar Rao, managing director (FAC), and Y Satyanarayana, OSD (retired deputy collector) re-employed as OSD to MD, were seen in the company of V Srinivas Goud, state excise minister at Tirumala on October 15 and 16.

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is currently in effect in Telangana for the ensuing state Assembly elections, mandates that government officials such as officers of state government and district administration, shall not receive, see off or call upon, by way of protocol, on the ministers at the Centre or of the States when they visit any state or district on election tour.

The schedule for the Telangana State Assembly election was announced on October 9, which also brought the MCC into effect on the same day.

The commission received a letter, dated November 9, which alleged that the two officers went to Tirumala on above mentioned date(s) and were seen accompanying the minister Srinivas Goud, who is also contesting from the Mahabubnagar Assembly constituency.

The letter said that the action of the TSTDC officers violated the instructions issued by the election commission regarding the guidelines for the conduct of government servants when the model code of conduct is in effect.

Boinpally Manohar Rao, Managing Director was asked to be immediately be placed under suspension and departmental proceedings on violation of MCC under relevant service rule shall be initiated.

Y. Satyanarayana shall immediately be removed under relevant contract/re-employment order conditions and applicable rules for violation of MCC.

The officials have asked an explanation from Principal Secretary, Tourism be called for covering up the alleged violation of MCC by her subordinates. An action taken report and explanation was asked to be sent to the Commission by 3 PM on November 19.

Guidelines for the conduct of Govt. servants:

The Government employees should not only be impartial but should also appear to be so in relation to the elections. hey required to conduct themselves in such a manner as to inspire confidence in the public in re gard to their impartiality so that there might not be any occasion for the people to think that the elections would not be held in a free, fair and pure atmosphere.

It should be stressed that they should avoid giving room for any suspicion that they are favoring any party or.any candidate. They are not expected to take part in any election campaign or canvassing and should take scrupulous care not to lend their names, official position or authority to assist one individual os against another or one group as against another.