HDK slams Hassan DC over notice to SP during Ganeshotsav

Bengaluru: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy has strongly criticised Hassan Deputy Commissioner K S Lathakumari for issuing a notice to the district Superintendent of Police regarding arrangements for Ganeshotsav, questioning the authority and conduct of the district administration.

Reacting to the controversy, Kumaraswamy asked whether becoming a Deputy Commissioner gave an officer special powers to act beyond the limits of the post. He questioned whether the DC considered herself a feudal ruler and urged her to exercise restraint while discharging official responsibilities.“I do not speak without reason. What does it mean to issue a notice to the SP? The SP is also a woman. Is the Deputy Commissioner a feudal ruler? Officials must work within their limits,” he said.

The controversy arose after Lathakumari issued a notice to Hassan SP in connection with the Ganeshotsav issue. The action has triggered debate over the roles and responsibilities of senior district officials. Kumaraswamy also questioned the manner in which the Deputy Commissioner had allegedly used social media, asking who had permitted her to make such posts. He said that if a public issue required an official response, the appropriate procedure should have been followed, including communication with the Chief Secretary where necessary.

The Union Minister further referred to Lathakumari’s previous tenure as Secretary of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). He alleged that her earlier record warranted scrutiny and said she should have been sent on leave and suspended instead of being posted as Hassan Deputy Commissioner. Kumaraswamy also raised concerns over the handling of Ganeshotsav arrangements in Devegere, where several Ganesha idols had reportedly been installed. He questioned whether the SP should be held solely responsible and warned that administrative functioning could suffer if senior officers failed to understand their responsibilities.