Corrupt official tried in public

The district administration was forced to respond, and held a quot;public inquiryquot;, during which the Deputy Tahsildar was virtually tried in public.

A large number of aggrieved villagers participated, and listed the amounts they had been forced to pay for getting various works done.

Incidentally, it came out during the inquiry that the officials demanded not onlymoney, but also things like gum bottles, paper and other stationery items.

The aggrieved parties, including Bhavani Nayak, vice-president of the local panchayat; Narayana Poojari, former member of Saligram Grama Panchayat, alleged that there were quot;standardquot; rates for different kinds of works at the Nada Katcheri, ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 280.

Taluk Tahsildar Nagaraj conducted the inquiry.

Udupi Consumer Forum convenor Damodara Aithala, who was present at the inquiry, complimented the common people for coming out in public and urged them to openly protest against corruption at every level. That people can quot;disciplinequot; the administration if they join hands, has been shown in Kota, he said. He also said the administration should ensure that the money collected by way of quot;mamoolquot; was returned.