Nagpur bench raps officials who sit on citizens' pleas for years: 'servants of the people, not masters'

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure at government officials who take no decision on citizens' applications and complaints for years. The court said in plain words that government officials are servants of the people, not their masters. According to the court, officials' negligence forces people to knock on the court's doors for their rights, and this also wastes the court's time needlessly.

The matter came up before a bench of Justice Anil Pansare and Justice Nivedita Mehta. Petitioner Dilip Thakre had submitted several applications about a service-related demand to the Nagpur Divisional Commissioner and the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad between October 2018 and November 2023. Despite this, no decision was taken on his applications for a long time. After nearly six years without action at the administrative level, Thakre had to approach the High Court.

During the hearing, the bench also questioned the unnecessary delays in administrative work. It said officials do not work on time, which is why citizens have to seek the court's shelter. Such petitions also consume the court's valuable time.

The court reminded that the Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in Discharge of Official Duties Act is in force to prevent administrative delay. Yet no action is taken against guilty officials under Section 10(3) of the Act. As a result, the law has remained confined to paper instead of leading to effective action.

The court also expressed displeasure at the attitude of the Rural Development Secretary. On August 31, the court had directed the Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department to inquire into the matter personally and act against the officials responsible. However, instead of conducting the inquiry, the secretary handed it to the Chief Executive Officer of the same Zilla Parishad, under whom the officials concerned work. The High Court expressed strong displeasure over this and has sought a reply from the secretary.

The bench has ordered the Rural Development Department secretary to file an affidavit by October 6. The secretary must explain why the matter was not inquired into personally, as per the High Court's August 31 order, and why the Zilla Parishad's Chief Executive Officer was instead directed to act against subordinate employees. Advocate Ashwin Ingole appeared for the petitioner.