Bureaucracy must uphold democratic values, respect public representatives: Chamoli

PNS | DEHRADUN

Dharampur MLA and senior BJP leader Vinod Chamoli said that respect for public representatives, from Gram Pradhans to MLAs is essential as they serve as the voice of the people. Disrespecting them equates to disregarding the public they represent. It is important to remember that bureaucrats in Uttarakhand are not above these elected representatives, he said. 

Chamoli recently raised concerns over the alleged lack of respect shown by bureaucrats towards public representatives in Uttarakhand. He also wrote to chief secretary Radha Raturi and urged the administration to frame and implement guidelines to ensure proper conduct by government officials during state-organised events and meetings. Highlighting a growing trend, he claimed that many bureaucrats perceive themselves as superior to elected representatives, leading to inappropriate behaviour.

Chamoli pointed out that this issue extends beyond personal experience, citing similar complaints from Gram Pradhans, ward councillors and fellow MLAs. “If senior MLAs are facing such treatment, one can only imagine the plight of public representatives at the grassroots level. The bureaucracy must understand that governance operates through the people’s elected representatives, not in isolation,” he said.

Chamoli also revealed that chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had discussed the issue with him and assured that guidelines to address this concern would be issued soon. He expressed hope that such measures will restore mutual respect and uphold the democratic ethos in governance.