An IAS officer in Chhattisgarh sparked social media outrage after a photo of him -- standing with a shoed foot resting on the steel rail of a hospital bed -- went viral on social media. Since then tweets have been pouring in about how Jagdish Sonkar, a 2013-batch IAS officer who also has an MBBS degree, not only disrespected his patients and put them at risk of infection, but also denigrated his position.
Sonkar was visiting a government Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre for a routine inspection and was interacting with mothers of malnourished children when he casually put his left foot up on the bed rail and leaned on it while speaking to the parent of a sick child, the Hindustan Times reported.
Someone from the hospital clicked a photo and posted it on social media.
After the backlash, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Ramanujganj in Balrampur district told the paper that his "action was unintentional and avoidable.”
Meet Chhattisgarh IAS officer Dr Jagdish Sonkar. He has a MBBS degree. He clearly knows his place in this country. https://t.co/RvbKeK3Pi5
— কাঞ্চন গুপ্ত (@KanchanGupta) May 4, 2016
Dear Jagdish Sonkar, IAS 2013 batch, SDM somewhere in Chattisgarh : Be respectful. And don't repeat this again. pic.twitter.com/3d11qVQiiB
— Bharati Chaturvedi (@Bharati09) May 4, 2016
The picture of Jagdish Sonkar SDM in Chattisgarh inspecting CHC is shocking and it's unacceptable
— IAS Association (@IASassociation) May 4, 2016
How bureaucrats inspects hospital.! A CG SDM Jagdish Sonkar resting his leg on a bed while talking a tribal woman. pic.twitter.com/7hFuQ3G3SD
— Anil Dubey (@anilscribe) May 4, 2016
Although Sonkar did have defenders. A Twitter user posted pictures purportedly showing Sonkar involved in good work beyond the call of duty, arguing that the foot-on-bed gesture was a temporary lapse for which he should not be harshly judged.
And this is Jagdish Sonkar . Who was treating patients for 2 n a half hrs in d same hospital,working overtime pic.twitter.com/L5oMV28ZFu
— alex paul menon (@alexpaulmenon) May 4, 2016
This is Jagdish Sonkar IAS ,taking time out of his busy schedule as SDM ,treating tribal kids pic.twitter.com/8CLlCkZD8t
— alex paul menon (@alexpaulmenon) May 4, 2016
And its Jagdish Sonkar IAS,the guy who is the most simple n humble guy,ive seen amng d young turks. pic.twitter.com/iBWPX3Fclt
— alex paul menon (@alexpaulmenon) May 4, 2016
But apparently Sonkar's gesture did not not go down well with Chief Minister Raman Singh who told the media that he has instructed the General Administration Department (GAD) to "train new officers in social behaviour and public dealing before sending them to field posting."
According to this report, the officer even faced suspension.
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