When Officers Don’t Answer Calls: Karnataka MLCs Flag Breakdown of Governance
Bengaluru: Several Members of the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLCs) have raised serious concerns over the growing trend of government officials failing to respond to phone calls from elected representatives, warning that such behaviour undermines public trust in governance and violates constitutional responsibilities.
In a formal communication addressed to the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, senior MLC and Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj S. Horatti highlighted that legislators are often compelled to contact officials over the phone to address urgent public grievances and matters of public interest. However, in many instances, officers either do not answer calls or fail to return calls even as a matter of courtesy.
The letter notes that while officials may occasionally be engaged in urgent duties, the complete lack of follow-up communication has caused deep dissatisfaction among legislators, who act as the primary bridge between citizens and the administration. Such conduct, it warns, weakens confidence in the administrative machinery and raises concerns about accountability.
The MLC further pointed out that when citizens approach their elected representatives seeking redressal of grievances, legislators are left with no option but to contact concerned officials. Non-responsiveness at that stage not only delays grievance redressal but also reflects poorly on the government’s commitment to public service.
Importantly, the communication cautions that persistent non-responsiveness from officials may amount to a violation of the constitutional rights and privileges of legislators, potentially necessitating reference to the Privileges Committee.
“Public service is the primary duty of the government. If officials fail to respond even to elected representatives, it raises a fundamental question — what then is the fate of the common citizen?” the letter observes.
In view of the seriousness of the issue, the MLC has urged the Chief Secretary to issue strict, state-wide instructions directing officers across all departments to ensure timely, courteous, and effective communication with both the public and their elected representatives.
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