Officers' corruption, Minister's misbehaviour figure in debate

Ranchi, Mar 13 (UNI) The Jharkhand Assembly today witnessed heated clashes between Treasury Benches and the Opposition over the issue of ''corruption'' among the officials and the recent act of state Human Resource Development Minister in which he allegedly punished a school teacher by making him run in school premises.

In a debate on the third supplementary budget, Upendranath Das (BJP) alleged that basing a few, most of the officials were corrupt.

Quoting media reports, Mr Das said the government had no control over such officials as the Ministers themselves were involved in transfer posting after taking money.

Referring to state Chief Minister Madhu Koda being an Independent MLA, he said that since the Chief Minister'' does not belong to any party and therefore is not under any party compulsion. So he should take stern action against those officers.'' He also brought the House's notice to media reports, saying state HRD Minister Bandhu Tirkey ''punished a school teacher by forcing him to run in the school premises''.

Immediately Mr Tirkey and Revenue Minister Dulal Bhuyian raised objection to such allegations, leading to heated arguments in the House.

Mr Saryu Rai (BJP) said Mr Tirkey had already apologised for his conduct.

UNI