Tamil Nadu IAS officer alleges caste discrimination by senior bureaucrat

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Young officer’s charges

Narnaware stated that the letter was related to his experience in the Chennai corporation as deputy commissioner of health from 14 June, 2021, to 13 June, 2022.

He alleged that Bedi, who is currently posted as the principal secretary of the Health Department, intentionally harassed him knowing that he was from a Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

The young IAS officer claimed that after a rift between him and a newspaper reporter, he was targeted by Bedi several times

He added that based on an article, he was sent to inspect a crematorium at 8:30 pm, when it was well known that the facility would be closed.

“He (Bedi) humiliated me by scolding me on unnecessary points in every review meeting, being attended by more than 40 officials. (Like what DC Health is doing when so many mosquitoes are there in the meeting hall),” Narnaware alleged.

He alleged that the senior officer often laughed aloud at him in front of all officials. He said he recalled at least three such instances.

The officer also said that Bedi tried to create a rift between him and IAS officer J Radhakrishnan, the then health secretary.

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Charges of caste discrimination

Narnaware also alleged that Bedi used to mention his caste and belief system in public.

He stated that the senior IAS officer asked him during their official visit to the Indore Corporation why he was going to the Ujjain Temple despite being a Buddhist.

“He (Bedi) used to not sign my subject files and made me wait every day for long hours at night to get approval and signature on regular files. He used to say, ‘Is it late? Then come tomorrow.’ The next day he used to say the same [thing],” Narnaware alleged.

The IAS officer also charged that Bedi weakened his team by changing a key employee, SE Veerapan, who was looking after solid waste management (SWM), and was a subject expert and instrumental in improving SWM in the Chennai corporation.

Narnaware alleged that further Bedi weakened his health team by creating a fight between key health officers, which impacted overall Health subject performance.

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Contemplated suicide

“All the above incidents along with humiliation on regular occasions made my morale down,” he said, adding that it led him to shed tears on multiple occasions.

“I suffered depression and took treatment for the same,” he said, adding that he let Bedi know as much, but alleged that the senior IAS officer “didn’t bother at all” about it, instead continuing the alleged ill-treatment.

Narnaware said he even contemplated suicide, after which he claimed his father came to Chennai urgently and gave him courage.

He added that unable to bear the harassment, he met the public secretary and requested a transfer, which was given to him.

“In the next posting, my mental condition improved due to constant support from and guidance by Amudha IAS, who was the Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department,” the officer said.

“In my opinion, such intentionally bad behaviour by Bedi to damage the reputation of a sincere officer and in a way letting him in mental depression, knowing the officer belongs to the SC community, is equivalent to atrocity under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” added Narnaware

In his letter, he also requested the Chief Secretary to “initiate appropriate action with due inquiry in this regard, so that in future integrity of the service can be upheld”.

Minutes after Narnaware posted the letter, he deleted his tweet.

Speaking to South First, Narnaware said that he abides by every word in his letter posted on Twitter. “I will send the undersigned letter to the chief secretary today (8 June).”

When asked about why he deleted the tweet, Narnaware said “If you are working in bureaucracy, you can very well understand why I deleted the post.”

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VCK, Dalit outfits extend support

Shocked over the allegations, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) MP D Ravikumar requested Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to probe them.

ஈரோடு மாவட்ட கூடுதல் ஆட்சியர் @DrManishIAS தற்போதைய சுகாதாரத் துறை செயலாளர் திரு @GSBediIAS பற்றி கூறியிருக்கும் புகார் அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.திரு பேடி கடலூர் மாவட்ட ஆட்சியராக இருந்த காலத்தில் நான் MLA ஆக இருந்தேன்.அவர் பாகுபாடு காட்டி நான் பார்த்ததில்லை.

— Dr D.Ravikumar (@WriterRavikumar) June 8, 2023

In a tweet, Rajkumar stated that he knew Bedi, but never heard anyone making such an allegation against him.

“It is worrisome that senior officials are taking part in caste discrimination,” he said.

Neelam Cultural Centre, which fights for the rights of Dalits, tweeted that the chief minister must address this issue at the earliest.

In Solidarity with Dr Manish Narnaware IAS

Dr Manish formerly serving as a Deputy Commissioner (Health) in Chennai (now AD, Erode) writes to the #ChiefSecretary of TN on instance of caste discrimination against him for being an SC office by @GSBediIAS #StandWithDrManishIAS pic.twitter.com/cNrRPZhc9w

— நீலம் பண்பாட்டு மையம் (@Neelam_Culture) June 8, 2023

It also sought the intervention of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in the issue.

Till the publishing of this article, senior IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi did not respond to calls or messages from South First. This report will be updated with his reply once he responds.

(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

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