Revenue services across Chhattisgarh were severely disrupted on Monday as approximately 500 tehsildars and naib tehsildars commenced an indefinite pen-down strike. The protest demands action against Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ramkumar Toppo and his supporters over the alleged assault of a revenue officer in Surguja district.
Strike Details and Impact
All revenue-related work across the state came to a standstill, causing significant hardship to the public. Tehsildars and naib tehsildars, considered the backbone of Chhattisgarh's revenue administration, launched the strike from Monday. The protest follows the alleged assault and misbehavior with Naib Tehsildar Tushar Manik by the MLA and his supporters on May 27 in Sitapur, Surguja.
With 146 tehsils and sub-tehsils dependent on these officers, the statewide strike is likely to affect thousands of mutation cases, certificate applications, revenue court matters, land acquisition proceedings, and beneficiary verification processes daily. This will lead to a substantial backlog and inconvenience for citizens seeking government services, said Krishna Kumar Lahare, president of the Chhattisgarh Kanisth Prashasanik Seva Sangathan.
Lahare stated, "We have begun an indefinite strike from Monday demanding action against the accused, including MLA Ramkumar Toppo, who allegedly manhandled Naib Tehsildar Tushar Manik in Surguja on May 27. We submitted a memorandum through the district collector to the state government seeking action, but we are yet to receive any assurance." He added that while the strike may not cause direct financial loss to the state government, the public will bear the brunt of the disruption.
Police and Political Reactions
Police have registered cross cases following the dispute between the naib tehsildar and the MLA. Separate FIRs have been lodged against both parties. A woman complainant filed a case against the revenue officer, while the naib tehsildar accused the legislator and his supporters of assault and obstruction of official duty.
The incident has triggered a political controversy, with the opposition Congress targeting the government's ongoing 'Sushasan Tihar' campaign and questioning whether such incidents reflect the principles of good governance being promoted by the state government.
Federation Warning
The Chhattisgarh Karmchari Adhikari Federation (CKAF) has issued a strong warning, stating it would be compelled to launch a statewide agitation if such incidents are not curbed and strict action is not taken. In a statement, the federation expressed deep concern over what it described as a growing trend of abusive behavior, intimidation, and physical assault against government servants by some elected representatives and political party functionaries, citing the recent incident involving the Sitapur MLA.
Federation state convener Kamal Verma said government employees and officers serve as a vital bridge between the government and the public, discharging their duties with dedication and responsibility. Any inhuman or humiliating treatment undermines the dignity of the employee-officer community and weakens administrative functioning and democratic norms. "Incidents involving violence, threats, and abusive conduct against government servants are unacceptable in any civilized society. Such acts adversely affect the morale of employees and officers and hinder the concept of good governance," Verma stated.
The organization urged the state government to ensure immediate and stringent legal action against those found guilty and to safeguard the security, dignity, and professional independence of government servants. Referring to recent episodes of alleged misconduct, the federation said these have generated widespread concern. It issued a clear warning that if such incidents recur and stringent action is not taken, employees and officers would have no option but to launch a statewide agitation to protect their dignity and security.
