Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 20 March 2023
Capt. Atul K Singh, Director, Shipping Services is trying to play god by using his official position to close down businesses at Great Nicobar Island. He is denying tickets to employees of businesses intending to travel to Great Nicobar. Nicobar Times had earlier reported that the administration has implemented an unannounced rule to stop non-locals from travelling to the Island.
Capt. Atul K Singh has been entrusted with the responsibility of issuing tickets to non-islanders based on his discretion. Today, I (the Editor of this Digital News Publication) and my father, Mr. N Kiran, District General Secretary of BJP, Nicobar District, approached the Director in his chamber at about 12:30 Pm to seek tickets. We entered the chamber with a few others seeking tickets for their employees and relatives.
While the Director was quick to issue tickets to others, he denied tickets to the employees of Mr. N Kiran. The Director, an Ex-Navy Official, sat laid back on his chair and upon requesting the tickets, he just waved his hands, indicating us to go away. When asked to justify the refusal, the Director said you are being rude. The Director said, ‘I am not from the administration. I am a Navy Official. I am not here to serve the public, and you are not authorised to question me.’
The errant official said, ‘You cannot come to me now. You should come in between 03:00 Pm to 04:00 Pm’. The Director (Shipping) knows that the shipping counter closes at 04:00 Pm, and if people approach him at 03:00 Pm, they cannot get tickets.
The Director has forgotten that his salary is being paid by the taxes collected from the citizens of this country, and he is accountable to each citizen of this country.
Administration should issue clear instructions to their officials on the restrictions imposed on travel to Great Nicobar, and proper procedure should be notified for issuing tickets to non-locals.
Unclear instructions lead to errant officials like Capt. Atul K Singh playing god, misusing his power to issue tickets to some and refusing tickets to others.