Port Blair, Nov 28 2020
The residents of Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Island and most of the Ex-PRIs are publicly denouncing the decision of handing over the routine charges of the Assistant Commissioner to an officer junior to the Tehsildar, even when the Tehsildar is available at the station.
Nicobar Times had earlier reported that the Ex-PRIs of Campbell Bay had raised objections earlier when the Assistant Commissioner of Campbell Bay was supposedly handing over his charges to a junior officer even when Tehsildar was available. Back then due to some reason the Assistant Commissioner did not proceed on leave.
According to the residents of Campbell Bay, the Assistant Commissioner left Campbell Bay by the Pawan Hans Helicopter on 27th of November 2020 and before leaving he handed over his routine charges to a junior officer instead of the normal practice of handing it over to the senior-most officer after him.
Shri. Casper James, Tehsildar, Campbell Bay is present at the station but still, the routine charges of the Assistant Commissioner were handed over to an officer junior to him. Most of the Ex-PRIs of Campbell Bay are aggrieved by this decision and are deciding on a further course of action on this issue.
One of the Ex-PRIs while speaking to Nicobar Times informed that the Assistant Commissioner has handed over his charges to a Junior Officer even when the Tehsildar is present at the station, which is a serious issue. He has also informed that the Ex-PRIs see this as discrimination with Shri. Casper James, who is a tribal officer hailing from the Islands.
‘Shri. Casper James is an exceptional officer who helps each and everyone without any discrimination and is popular among all the residents of Campbell Bay. He is known for his compassion and good behaviour. He has helped everyone who approaches him.’ Conveyed a resident of Campbell Bay on a call with Nicobar Times this afternoon.
Further, a senior retired officer of Andaman and Nicobar Administration informed Nicobar Times that, It is the prerogative of the Controlling Authority of the Officer or the Leave Sanctioning Authority of the Officer to decide on who the officer hands over his routine charges to. He further informed that Ideally the routine charges should have been handed over to the Tehsildar being the senior-most officer after the Assistant Commissioner.
The reasons for such a decision is not known, but the general public and the Ex-PRIs are in no mood to bow down on this issue. The issue is being seen in the light of discrimination with a local tribal officer of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Sources have informed us that when the Assistant Commissioner (Head Quarter), Car Nicobar under the same controlling officer and leave sanctioning authority left his station in the past, he had handed over his routine charges to the Tehsildar there.
It is still unclear as to why the charges of the Assistant Commissioner, Campbell Bay were not handed over to the Tehsildar, Campbell Bay who is senior most after him and has also served more than two years in the position of the Assistant Commissioner of Nancowry.
The Ex-PRIs of Campbell Bay have requested Nicobar Times to raise this issue and question the A & N Administration on their behalf as to why they are discriminating against a senior Tehsildar who is people friendly and is an ideal officer, who helps everyone.