Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE UNNECESSARY CELEBRATION! DOES SHIFTING OF IGR OFFICE NEED A POMP CEREMONY?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

 
The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

THE UNNECESSARY CELEBRATION!       

DOES SHIFTING OF IGR OFFICE NEED A POMP CEREMONY?

The other day, the office of the Inspector General of Registration was shifted from Shimsha Bhavan in Jayanagar 8th Block to the Kandaya Bhavan. The ‘House Warming’ of the office was conducted amidst much fanfare and splendour. The Sub Registrars were made to donate about 8 to 10 thousand towards the function. There is no reason whatsoever for opening of the new office of a government department with pomp, especially when the state is reeling under severe drought. It is up to the Revenue Minister and Dy. CM K.S.Eswarappa to explain this.... 

 As is usual, the IGR office has been shifted for the second time in five years. In 1996, the IGR office which was functioning in Survey Building in KR Circle was forced to shift the office to the Cauvery Bhavan. In 2007 again the office was shifted to Shimsha Bhavan in Jayanagar. Now the office has again been shifted to the newly constructed Kandaya Bhavan. So, there is nothing to be celebrated for the shifting of the IGR office to the Kandaya Bhavan. 

 But the IGR Dr. V.Chandrashekar had thought otherwise. He wanted to celebrate the ‘shifting’ on a grand scale to tom tam the achievement! The government pays money towards shifting and transportation of the office. Normally, whenever a government office is shifted or relocated, the concerned department issues a press statement indicating the new address. Except ‘doing’ puja in the new premises, there is nothing grandeur or euphorial over the new premises. 

 But the IGR Chandrashekar would have nothing of it. He planned a grand gala inauguration ceremony as if it is the inauguration of a mega project by the government. He directed all the top officials and Sub Registrars to ‘donate’ for the function. In fact, Chandrashekar did not even choose an auspicious date but opted for the 14th because of availability of the Deputy CM K.S.Eswarappa, who is also the Revenue Minister. 

 Whatsoever, once Chandrashekar decided to hold the inauguration of the new office, then came the question of money needed for the function. The government pays for shifting of the office but definitely not for functions etc. So, Chandrashekar directed the Sub Registrar to donate for the function. He had fixed the ‘collection’ target to the District Registrars. The DRs were asked to pay Rs.80 thousand each, that is 4.80 lakhs. The DRs had to collect the same from the SRs in their jurisdictions. 

 In fact, to force the SRs to contribute more and to ensure the attendance of all the SRs to the function, a meeting was called in the IGR office on 13th and it is a shame that the SRs were asked to attend the meeting at 11 AM, that is when they are to attend to their official work in their offices. In addition to this, the IGR had distributed preparation works to the DIGRs, AIGRs, and DRs. 

Allegedly, the expenses of the function had not crossed one lakh. Still the collections are more than 4.5 lakhs. Then where did the remaining amount go? More than anything, where was the necessity for holding the ‘inauguration’ with pomp and splendor? There are all the chances of the IGR office being shifted to some other place in the near future. 

That is all.