PUNE, Jan 29: Coming out strongly against bureaucrats making fancy speeches on corruption after retirement, Divisional Commissioner Arun Bhatia today revealed that he had paid the price for being honest and doing `good work' in the course of his career.In a hard-hitting speech on `Clean Administration' at a talk organised by Nagrik Chetna Manch at Poona Club here, Bhatia in an expansive mood revealed that he had been denied promotion and had to work under a boss at the Mantralaya who was several years his junior.``There is a departmental enquiry pending against me for blowing the whistle to the press and accusing senior officers of shielding corruption.'' he said. Bhatia disclosed that he had been transferred 22 times during the course of his career and had to put up with lousy postings in remote areas. ``At times, I found myself in departments like Weights and Measures checking whether the one kilo weights were okay,'' he recollected, going back to the times when he was ostracised.``Do not believe bureaucrats who make such speeches. I can list the names of senior bureaucrats who write a lot of articles in newspapers on corruption. One of them was responsible for ruining my confidential record, and terming me as mad, when he was facing an enquiry.'' The fiery divisional commissioner remembered that he had to approach the court and fight for his first promotion and was also denied his second promotion. At times, his job also had an impact on the home front where his child remained on the defensive. ``Here was a father who was always talking ill about bureaucrats,'' he said recollecting the times when his son and wife found themselves in awkward situations. " At the end of it all it seems worthwhile,'' he reflected.Bhatia who emphasised the `right of citizens to know' demanded to know what had prevented bureaucrats from initiating action against corruption. `Right to know' is on the Centre's agenda, he said and suggested punishment for the corrupt. ``We need a bill which is effective and mandatory for all departments. Take them to court. Punish them. But for God's sake do not leave the decision in the hands of the bureaucrat,'' he pleaded.Bhatia also lashed out against the so-called honest officers holding them responsible for their inability to take action. The fact that they are in the civil services means that they have been given a mandate to clean the management. But they do not do this for the fear of peer pressure, he said. Many bureaucrats call their service `smooth sailing', he said. How can it be so when the whole system is corrupt, he asked. This according to him, communicated that something was wrong with the man. Bhatia also expressed his willingness to furnish a list of officers against whom he had lodged complaints to prove his point and urged for support for his campaign against the 200 talathis.Earlier, Sarla Datar, president of Nagrik Chetna Manch welcomed the guests.
