Dress code Issue: Bastar DM defends himself, says ‘can’t wear bandhgala at 40°C’
RAIPUR: As controversy spiralled over Bastar collector Amit Kataria’s welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Chhattisgarh in striped shirt and shades, the IAS officer defended himself on social networking sites saying a formal suit or a ‘bandhgala’ at sweltering 40 degrees was impractical.
Kataria remained incommunicado to the media, but he sent WhatsApp messages to a group of senior IAS and IPS officers “clarifying” his position.
“Bastar is very hot in May with temperatures above 40. Wearing bandhgala for hours while looking after arrangements is not practical. I was dressed in complete formal dress, blue shirt, black trousers, black leather shoes (not t-shirt or chappals, and blue is a good colour in formal shirts),” Kataria wrote.
Kataria stated, “The PM said nothing like ‘dabang’ or anything. It’s purely media creation by some local newspaper. He was very courteous and only said hello.”
Nonetheless, the episode does appear to have split the bureaucracy with many criticizing Kataria as well.
One IAS (Outsiders) Association group on Facebook said, “Not clear how ‘shabbily’ he came in. If the occasion demands suitable sober dress then it should be worn. If the regulations require particular dress, it should be worn, even if uncomfortable. After all police officers wearing uniform do not always feel comfortable. What is good for IPS is also good for IAS. We have to surrender individuality when we join a cadre. Looking great is good elsewhere not on formal occasion.”
Another official posted, “No dress code is needed for IAS officers. Code has wider connotation and tends to create distance. IPS is on a different footing. Wear decent clothes. Having said that, one should not wear goggles as these restrict eye contact.”
Justifying his decision not to follow the formal dress code, Kataria said, “Governor, CM, CS, DGP came from the circuit house properly dressed and received the PM before me. I was standing and managing for them for many hours in the hot sun and was sweating and my eyes were burning. I decided not to wear the coat which I had put in my car.” He also said chief minister Raman Singh was not bothered about such trifling.
“I have put 11 years of service and have done three districts, but if I am still naive and foolish, the UPSC and the Academy need to be blamed,” he further wrote.
Kataria now has a Fans Club on Facebook. The page “AMIT Kataria FANS CLUB” has over 2000 likes and one fan uploaded a photograph purportedly of government officials with the message, “Hum Sath Sath Hain.”
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Source:Timesofindia
