Karnataka Speaker has referred complaints against Senior IAS officer to the Privileges Committee.
Congress MLA Raju Kage has accused IAS officer Rajender Kumar Kataria of insulting him during discussions on development projects in Belagavi district.
Complaints Referred for Review
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader has forwarded complaints against Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria (a 1996-batch Karnataka cadre IAS officer) and Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannavar to the Privileges Committee, following allegations of misconduct towards legislators.
Allegations Against Officials
Congress MLA Raju Kage (Kagwad constituency) alleged that IAS officer Rajender Kumar Kataria disrespected him during discussions on Belagavi’s development projects. Condemning this behavior, Speaker Khader asserted that the insult extended beyond the MLA to the entire House. He subsequently referred the complaint to the Privileges Committee for further examination.
Similarly, BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimud (Gulbarga Rural constituency) accused Additional Superintendent of Police Mahesh Meghannavar of showing disrespect towards him and demanded appropriate action.
Calls for Strict Action
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok, along with BJP legislators Arvind Bellad and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, strongly criticized Kataria’s conduct and urged the government to take strict measures. Yatnal even suggested transferring Kataria to Jammu and Kashmir as a disciplinary action.
In response, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil proposed summoning both officials to the Speaker’s chamber for discussions. However, Speaker Khader insisted that government officials must uphold respect towards legislators and ultimately referred both cases to the Privileges Committee for further review
