Bhubaneswar, Nov 7 (PTI) Odisha Revenue Department’s Additional Chief Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee on Saturday expressed anguish over the arrest of a young officer in a bribery case and urged all employees to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.
In a letter addressed to employees of the department, Padhee said he was “deeply anguished and distressed” over the incident involving the Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) officer who was caught by the Vigilance Department while allegedly accepting a bribe.
“It is a serious wake-up call. I urge everyone to remain vigilant and uphold the highest standards of ethics, integrity and transparency in public service to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future,” he said.
ORS officer Manisha Mishra, who was on probation, was arrested on Friday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000 from a person seeking registration of a land sale deed.
According to the Vigilance Department, Mishra initially demanded Rs 10,000 from the complainant but reduced the amount to Rs 7,000 after he expressed his inability to pay the entire sum.
A case has been registered against her under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018.
In his letter, Padhee said government service was not merely a means of livelihood but an opportunity to serve the people.
A single incident should not be allowed to define the performance or image of the entire department, he said.
Expressing confidence in the majority of officers and employees, he said they were discharging their duties with sincerity, integrity and dedication.
He also called for mutual respect, cooperation and a strong sense of responsibility among employees at different levels to create a healthy and positive work environment.
“I urge everyone to remain guided by their conscience, uphold a sense of humanity and recognise that public trust is our greatest asset,” he said. PTI AAM AAM SOM
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