Show respect to MLAs, Punjab govt tells bureaucrats

Punjab government today pulled up the state bureaucracy and directed it show "due respect" to MLAs after complaints that officers, especially at district headquarters, tend to "overlook" the legislators.
Strict action would be initiated against those officers who defy the government directive, an official spokesman said here.
It had come to the notice of the Special Privilege Committee of the state Assembly that the officers, especially at the district headquarters tend to overlook the MLAs whenever they visit them for some official work.
Besides this, the officers also did not attend the official functions, the MLAs have complained to the Committee.

Taking serious note of the observations of the Privilege Committee, the government made it mandatory for the officers at the district levels to attend the official programmes and extend due "respect and honour" to the visiting public representative or VIP in their respective districts.
They have also been directed to attend the phone calls of the elected members, the spokesman said.