In a government memo dated 20 May, K Ramakrishna Rao advised state bureaucrats against engaging in actions or gestures that are unbecoming of members of the services during public meetings and gatherings.
Published May 22, 2025 | 12:53 AM ⚊ Updated May 22, 2025 | 12:53 AM
Tribal Welfare Secretary A Sharath was seen attempting to touch Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's feet at a public event
Synopsis: Telangana Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has urged all bureaucrats and public servants to maintain decorum and refrain from inappropriate gestures, following a viral video of Tribal Welfare Secretary A Sharath attempting to touch Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s feet. The incident, which occurred during a public event on 19 May, was the latest of repeated breaches of conduct by state officials seeking favour with political leaders.
In response to a viral video showing a senior Telangana bureaucrat attempting to touch Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s feet at a public function, Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has issued a directive to All India Services (AIS) officers and other public servants, urging them to maintain professionalism and decorum in public conduct.
The action follows Tribal Welfare Secretary A Sharath being seen attempting to touch Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s feet at a public event in Macharam village, Nagarkurnool district, on 19 May – an action widely considered inappropriate for an Indian Administrative Service officer.
In a government memo dated 20 May, K Ramakrishna Rao advised state bureaucrats against engaging in actions or gestures that are unbecoming of members of the services during public meetings and gatherings.
Quoting Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, the order reminds that officers must at all times maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty and refrain from any behaviour unbecoming of a member of the service.
It further emphasised that AIS officers are expected to uphold a high standard of professionalism, integrity, and decorum, both in their official roles and public interactions, in order to preserve the trust and confidence of the public they serve.
In a separate memo, the Chief Secretary conveyed similar instructions to all public servants.
Citing Rule 3 of the Telangana Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, he stated that every government employee must demonstrate devotion to duty and maintain absolute integrity, discipline, impartiality, and propriety.
No employee, he said, should behave in a manner that is unbecoming of a government servant or detrimental to the prestige of the government.
He directed all Secretariat departments and heads of departments to circulate the instructions among the officers and staff under their purview.
Notably, this is not the first time A Sharath has made such a gesture.
On 20 June 2021, while serving as Collector of Kamareddy district, he attempted to touch the feet of the then-Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao during a visit to inaugurate the integrated collector’s complex.
On the same day, the then Siddipet Collector P Venkataramu Reddy was also seen touching KCR’s feet during the inauguration of the new collectorate building in Siddipet.
These incidents sparked criticism from the public and opposition parties, who accused the officers of trying to curry favour with the Chief Minister for personal and professional gain.
Venkataramu Reddy subsequently became a MLC, and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) fielded him for the Medak Lok Sabha seat, which he lost.
The conduct of the then Director of Public Health and Family Welfare G Srinivasa Rao was even more controversial.
During a television interview, he stated that “he longed to touch KCR’s feet” – a statement that invited widespread criticism. He later went on to do so regardless.
Following this, he expressed his intention to contest the Assembly elections from Kothagudem, but the BRS did not nominate him.
He was relieved of his post as Director of Public Health in December 2023 after the Congress government assumed power.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
