Baripada: The Collectorate Office in Odisha’s Baripada on Wednesday witnessed an unusual agitation by an OAS officer, Mamtaj Moharana.
The officer, accompanied by her sons, staged the sit-in protest after her joining report as Deputy Collector of Mayurbhanj was rejected.
Moharana stated that she had promptly reported for duty following her transfer but was met with rejection without any explanation. “This goes beyond a simple transfer issue, it’s about accountability and the rights of officers in the system,” she emphasised.
An official notification dated December 22 revealed that Baripada Collector Hemakanta Say declined to accept Moharana’s joining report submitted on December 15. The order, signed by the Additional District Magistrate, instructed her to report back to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department for further directions.
Sources within the administration later attributed the rejection to ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Moharana in Mayurbhanj district. Allowing her to assume duties there could potentially compromise the impartiality of the inquiry, officials indicated.
Moharana’s case traces back to her tenure as Tehsildar of Badasahi block in Mayurbhanj, where she faced allegations linked to illegal sand mining activities. She was suspended in 2022 after being severely reprimanded by National Green Tribunal (NGT) over irregularities in sand extraction from Budhabalanga river bed. Reports suggested connivance with leaseholders who exceeded mining limits, leading to environmental damage and revenue loss. Though she was allowed to resume service, the disciplinary proceedings against her are still pending.
Senior officials of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department said that the matter was under review but declined to provide further details.
