Team News Riveting
Ranchi, May 16
The privilege committee of Lok Sabha has summoned Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Jharkhand cadre Manjunath Bhajantri in connection with a breach of privilege motion.
The 2011-batch IAS officer and Deputy Commissioner of Deoghar has been asked to appear on May 18 at 1.45 pm in connection with the examination of the matter related to notice of question of breach of privilege dated 5 September 2022 given by Member of Parliament from Godda Dr Nishikant Dubey against Bhajantri for alleged misuse of official position.
Manjunath, who made it to prestigious IAS from modest origins in Karnataka, hogged the headlines for plain-speak and standing up to BJP parliamentarians Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari over alleged violation of rules and regulations at the Deoghar airport on August 31, and posing some uncomfortable questions for them. His September 3 tweet reads: “Hon’ble MP Sir, Few questions. 1. Who authorised you to enter the ATC Room? 2. Who authorised your two children to enter the ATC Room? 3. Who authorised your supporters to enter the ATC Building?”
The controversy erupted after the Deoghar police registered an FIR against the two BJP MPs, Dubey’s two sons, the Deoghar airport director and others for allegedly ‘forcefully’ taking clearance from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) for take-off of a chartered flight from the airport despite the absence of ‘night take-off or landing facility’.
The matter escalated further when Dubey lodged a complaint with the Delhi police on September 3, invoking sedition charges against Manjunath and Jharkhand police officers for allegedly compromising “national security”. The charges included criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. The MP also moved a notice of breach of privilege against the IAS officer.
The letter issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat had been marked to the Secretary, Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances and Pension, and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand for compliance. Earlier, Bhajantri had received notice in September 2022. The officer had replied that he never went to the airport ATC office and threatened MP Dr Nishikant Dubey.
