Youth tells IAS officer at Nagpur PWD office that civil servants serve the public, video goes viral

A video from an office of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Nagpur is circulating widely on social media. It clearly shows a sharp exchange between a member of the public and an IAS officer. The video has stirred considerable reaction online and renewed questions about how the administration functions.

The incident is said to have taken place at the PWD office in Nagpur, where a high-level review meeting was under way. A local resident approached the officer with a public grievance. He had barely begun speaking when the officer asked him sharply whether he had a prior appointment. The officer said plainly that a meeting was not possible without an appointment and asked the young man to come back later.

The officer's attitude angered the young man. He reminded the officer of the post and the constitutional responsibility the officer holds. He said sharply that the officer was not the manager or employee of a private company but a servant of the people of this country and this state. According to him, serving the public is the officer's basic duty, not a favour.

The young man also said that the officer's salary and the running costs of the office are paid from taxes, the hard-earned money of ordinary people. His blunt remarks drew the attention of those present, and someone recorded the entire exchange on a mobile phone.

The young man who argued with the officer is being identified as Yash Gorkhede. He is the founder of the Jan Badlav Party in Nagpur city and is often seen speaking openly on social issues. Since the incident, his video has been watched millions of times on platforms including X, Instagram and Facebook.

After the video surfaced, social media users have split into two camps. Many users, including ordinary people, are standing with Yash Gorkhede. They say government offices exist for the public and officials must be accountable to the people. In their view, red tape and turning people away in the name of appointments are not acceptable.

On the other side, some argue that government work and meetings have their own decorum and schedules, and that this discipline should be respected. For now, the video has once again set off a serious debate on the relationship and communication between the bureaucracy and the public.