In a startling revelation during his recent visit to Chikkamagaluru, Justice K.N. Phaneendra, the Upalokayukta, conducted an unannounced inspection of the City Municipal Council (CMC) office. There, he made a disconcerting discovery: a prominent public complaint box that had clearly been left unopened for a significant period.
Justice Phaneendra and his team first spotted the complaint box hanging conspicuously on a wall, right next to the Commissioner’s office. When he asked officials to open it, the CMC staff sheepishly admitted that the keys had been lost. Undeterred, the Upalokayukta insisted, and the box was eventually forced open with the help of a locksmith.
The contents were even more alarming: complaints dating back to 2020 lay untouched, clearly ignored for years. “What is the purpose of having a complaint box if you don’t bother to open it?” a visibly angered Justice Phaneendra questioned. He immediately instructed Commissioner B.C. Basavaraj to thoroughly review every complaint and take swift, appropriate action.
Beyond addressing the backlog, Justice Phaneendra also ordered the prompt replacement of the old box with a new one and emphasized the critical importance of regularly checking and addressing public grievances and suggestions.
This wasn’t the only instance of lax oversight. Earlier in his inspection, the Upalokayukta had scrutinized the employee attendance register. He noted that many officials had failed to record the cash they possessed upon entry and exit, a mandatory practice. Justice Phaneendra subsequently directed the Commissioner to take disciplinary action against all defaulting employees.