Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has made pointed remarks about the situation surrounding Hassan Deputy Commissioner KS Lathakumari, saying that people in the district know who is allegedly putting pressure on the officer.
Shivakumar made the comments while speaking at a public interaction in Sakleshpur on the Kasturirangan report and concerns raised by residents of the Malnad region. His remarks have drawn attention because of the recent disagreement between Lathakumari and former minister and JD S MLA HD Revanna.
Speaking about the administration in Hassan district, Shivakumar said there was a capable team of officials but suggested that the Deputy Commissioner was facing pressure. He did not directly name Revanna in the remarks, but his comments were widely understood in the context of the recent disagreement between the two.
The Chief Minister also said that he had personally spoken to the Deputy Commissioner and encouraged her to continue working without fear. He said officials should focus on serving people and addressing the concerns of ordinary residents.
The background to the issue goes back to a dispute over reservation arrangements for Gram Panchayat elections in Hassan district. Revanna had publicly questioned the manner in which reservations were finalised and criticised the functioning of the Deputy Commissioner.
Lathakumari subsequently responded to the criticism and defended the process followed by the district administration. She said the authority to notify Gram Panchayat ward reservations rests with the Deputy Commissioner under the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj Act, while proposals are prepared at the lower administrative level.
The disagreement became more public after Revanna questioned the appointment and functioning of the officer. Lathakumari rejected the remarks and said that objections to administrative decisions could be raised through the appropriate procedure.
The controversy has therefore developed into a wider discussion about the relationship between elected representatives and district administration. The Chief Minister’s latest comments have added another political dimension to the issue.
During his Sakleshpur visit, Shivakumar was primarily there to hear public concerns regarding the Kasturirangan report and its possible impact on residents of the Western Ghats. The state government has been holding consultations with farmers, local residents, elected representatives and other groups before taking its position on the issue.
The Chief Minister has said that public opinion and ground realities will be considered before the government takes a final position. The state is also preparing for a special legislative session where the Kasturirangan report and related concerns are expected to be discussed.
Shivakumar also spoke about his own tenure in office during the interaction. He said he did not know how much time he had available but would continue responding to people’s concerns for as long as he had the opportunity and ability to do so.
He further said that holding office provides an opportunity to work for the public and that he intended to use that opportunity to address people’s problems. He also said opposition parties were free to highlight their achievements but could be questioned when people believed work had not been completed.
The Chief Minister also offered advice to local MLA Shivalinge Gowda. Rather than repeatedly travelling to Bengaluru, Shivakumar suggested that the legislator spend more time visiting villages, listening to residents and addressing their local problems.
The remarks came at a time when the state government is dealing with several issues affecting the Malnad and Hassan regions. Alongside the Kasturirangan report, local residents have raised concerns about land, farming, environmental restrictions and administrative decisions.
The dispute involving the Hassan Deputy Commissioner remains separate from the Kasturirangan discussions, but Shivakumar’s comments have brought renewed attention to the tensions between the district administration and political representatives.
For now, the administration is continuing its work on the issues raised by residents, while the disagreement surrounding the Hassan Deputy Commissioner remains a subject of political discussion.
