Mangaluru: It is reliably learnt that corporators of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) are hell bent on moving the newly appointed 28-year-old Commissioner, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati (IAS), out of the office of the Commissioner of the MCC. She was appointed to this office only recently, viz. at the start of the new year.
Rani’s hard stance, of not deviating from the provisions of the Karnataka Municipalities Act 1964, while dealing with civic issues has been cited as the reason by corporators for their unified demand. The councillors representing both the BJP and the Congress, are making serious efforts through various channels to have her transferred.
Within the ruling congress itself, infighting has been going on for many years over the appointment to the Commisioner’s post, which in turn, led to a long delay in the appointment of the present Commissioner itself.
Bureaucratic arrogance
“Engineers and junior corporators are scared to talk to Rani as she displays bureaucratic arrogance,” expressed corporator of ward 14 Harinath. When asked whether the corporators want her to be transferred, he said quite succinctly, “We don’t want such a Commissioner”. He added, “In my three decades of experience in the corporation, I have not seen the likes of Hephsiba. The lady commissioner quotes complex rules and regulations and fails to listen and understand the problems put forth by the corporators”.
“Arrogant IAS officer does not have proper manners”, was the opinion expressed by Pratibha Kulai, corporator of ward number 8. A BJP corporator, opposition leader, MCC, Sudhir Shetty (ward 52) conveyed a similar view. He also added that Ramanath Rai must act upon the complaints brought to his notice.
“Transfer not the solution”, MLA defends
A credible source in the Congress party informed Newskarnataka.com that MLA, Mangaluru South J R Lobo is backing Hephsiba, even as corporators approached District-In-Charge Minister Ramanath Rai. “The efforts have been kick-started by both the Congress and the BJP corporators to transfer her from the post,” the source confirmed. Even as the corporators move against the commissioner, the source praised her efforts in the office saying that “she has been discharging her duty to the best to her knowledge”.
“For any officer a time and space has to be given to settle down in the office,” said, J R Lobo. Dealing with the issues pertaining to the MCC was not so easy. “I have advised young Hephsiba to take everyone into confidence.” He said, “transfer is not the solution”. He quoted the example of Prasanna. ” When we brought Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officer H Prasanna to replace Ajith Kumar Hegde, Prasanna was not allowed to function resulting his exit. Prasanna was an able KAS officer”.
“We cannot again knock at doors in Bengaluru to change the Commissioner. I certainly do not have the face to seek another change.” Lobo said on the prospects of change. He hoped she would be fine in a span of six months, as it would take minimum of six months to digest the problems of the MCC.
“Will resolve issues”, Ramanath Rai
Ramanath Rai speaking to Newskarnataka.com said the lacunae of the Commissioner was 
brought to his notice. “Many corporators shared their grievances that she delays in giving her nod to immediate civic works in the city.” He further added he would hold talks with the Commissioner, but currently there was no issue of transferring the IAS officer.
Should she be transferred out, the Commissioner has the option to move the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), for a reversal of the order.
