HYDERABAD: With protocol being extended to governor turning into a major row, the Telangana government is considering changing protocol rules. Sources in the government said the government is exploring the possibility of assigning protocol duties to some officers or ministers instead of the chief minister calling on the governor on certain occasions.
Apart from this, the government is considering appointing designated protocol officers instead of collectors and superintendents of police to receive the governor during district tours.
Sources in CMO said the government is taking the view of legal experts on changing some protocol rules, which could be done at the state level without completely ignoring the governor’s protocol as mandated by the Constitution.
This is not first time, as and when required, the government changed protocol rule. It even deputed some ministers to receive VVIPs to the state. Home minister Mohd Mahmood Ali has been designated as minister in waiting to receive and see off Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu as it is not possible for chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to go to the airport every time. Vice-President Naidu also accepted KCR’s request earlier as he frequently visits Hyderabad.
Recently, during unveiling of Sree Ramanuja statue (Statue of Equality) organized by Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamy, KCR had designated minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav as minister in waiting to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi as KCR was unwell and skipped the programme.
As both KCR and Tamilisai Soundararajan are at loggerheads, the CM is unlikely to meet her even for mandatory or customary meetings and might depute some ministers on permanent basis.
“Generally, when the CM meets PM or President in Delhi or before the assembly sessions, the chief minister calls on the governor and briefs her/him. It was followed when ESL Narasimhan was the governor. If the protocol demands for certain functions, the CM will depute other ministers,” a senior TRS leader said.
At the district-level, revenue officials like tahsildars, revenue divisional officers and other officials like municipal commissioners discharge protocol duties during the visits of VIPs like cabinet ministers and cabinet-rank officials. But for CM and governor, the collector and SP mandatorily receive them as per the protocol rules. Violation of protocol would also be viewed seriously as governor is the first citizen of the state.Tamilisai Soundarajan had complained to the Centre that collectors and SPs violated protocol rules during her visit to Sammakka-Sarakka jatara and Yadadri temple visit.
