The cold war between Virudhunagar Collector, A. Sivagnanam, and District Revenue Officer, I. Anandakumar, has surfaced with the DRO choosing to walk all the way from his house to the office in Collectorate here on Monday morning resenting denial of a “motorable” official vehicle to him.
After a photograph of the DRO walking with his personal clerk on the Collectorate premises was published in a section of the media, the district administration claimed that the DRO was in possession of two official vehicles and used one of them on Monday afternoon and on Tuesday.
Friction between Mr. Sivagnanam, who will complete his second year as Collector here shortly, and Mr. Anandakumar is said to be going on ever since he took charge as DRO in November 2017. But it was confined to official circle and used to surface during meetings, said an official.
It became evident when the Collector issued a press statement in which he accused the office of DRO for delaying the process of renewal of licenses to firework units and shops. The statement said that some people in the DRO office were expecting money to clear the files. The Collector issued a warning that all pending files should be cleared within two days.
I. Anandakumar
When the issue seemed to die down, another statement over arrest of a youth on charges of intimidating an official kicked up fresh controversy. A spin was given to the arrest of a fake Deputy Collector, Sivasubramanian, alleging that he was seen close to the Collector on earlier occasion.
“All is not well as the relationship between them remained strained. Once the DRO even quit the Virudhunagar district officials’ WhatsApp group in a controversy over printing of invitations for a function. He left a caustic remark against the district administration before quitting the group,” an official said on condition of anonymity.
The DRO told The Hindu that his request seeking an official vehicle after his old Ambassador car was sent for condemnation did not evoke positive response from the Collector. “I was allotted an old Bolero which is not in a good condition. I cannot take it for longer distance for my official visits,” he said.
Mr Sivagnanam alleged that Mr. Anandakumar was angered over Collector’s clearance of files relating to Arms Act two weeks ago as there was inordinate delay in clearing files by the DRO.
“He found fault with other officials for the same. Regarding vehicle, the DRO has changed his driver who complained of his official car. With his car still having motorable life, we cannot condemn it right now. Despite having two vehicles with him, he has created a scene,” Mr. Sivagnanam asserted.
Both the officials complained about each other that they were being misguided.