Hyderabad (23.05.2025): What was in the mind of A Sharath (IAS: 2006: TG), an officer from state public service who was promoted to IAS cadre in 2006, when he attempted to touch the feet of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, sycophancy? Respect was certainly not the case. To put it in perspective, a bureaucrat is not supposed to be committed one as they are answerable to provisions of the Constitution and President of India.

When the said officer attempted to touch the feet of the CM during a public gathering on May 19, 2025, reportedly the CM communicated Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao (IAS: 1991: TG) that some of the officers with such behaviour not only create awkward moments for political leadership but also cause embarrassment to them. This must be stopped at the earliest. Taking cue from this, the Telangana CS, who is a no-nonsense officer and known for professional approach towards everything, took note of the matter by issuing a memo to address the issue.

The said IAS officer’s attempt prompted the CS to issue a memo to all IAS, IPS and IFoS officers in the state to “henceforth refrain from indulging in acts and gestures which are unbecoming of a Member of the Service in public meetings and gatherings. Interestingly A Sharath failed to learn from former Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar (IPS: 1990: TG) who was suspended by Election Commission of India for offering bouquet to A Revanth Reddy immediately after winning Telangana Assembly elections.

Another such officer in Andhra Pradesh G Christ Kishor Kumar, the then joint Collector of Shrikalulam, touched the feet of an important number two minister in the last Jagan government. PS to the CM issued a memo to him. Such behaviour does not augur well for politics as well as bureaucracy.