Failure of a senior IAS officer to respond satisfactorily to questions raised by an MP has earned him the displeasure of a Parliamentary committee which issued a caution to him but refused to proceed further as he tendered an "unconditional apology".
The newly set up Committee on Violation of Protocol Norms and Contemptuous Behaviour of Government Officers with Members of Lok Sabha observed that K K Pathak, Joint Secretary in the MHA, had caused "hurt" to BJP MP Bishnu Pada Ray.
The committee, in its report tabled in Parliament today, said Pathak had conducted himself in a "casual" manner when Ray went to meet him on May 9, 2012 to seek answers to issues related to his constituency Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
"The committee is of the view that Shri K K Pathak, Joint Secretary, did not adhere to the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) revised guidelines regarding official dealings between the administration and Members of Parliament and State Legislatures -- Observance of proper procedure ... In his interaction with Shri Bishnu Pada Ray...," it said.
At the same time, the report said Pathak had later "tendered unconditional apology and expressed his deepest regrets over this incident".
It added that "after taking into considerations the totality of the circumstances of the case and in view of the unconditional and unqualified apologies tendered" by Pathak, the committee is of the "view that the dignity of the House would be best served by not proceeding further in the matter. The committee, therefore, recommends that the matter may be treated as closed."
However, the report said, the committee expects that Pathak "will not commit such mistakes in future and would exercise sufficient caution and extend due courtesies while dealing with Members of Parliament and other public representatives.
