Kochi: The Kerala High Court has observed that elected governments are destined to fail if government officials do not act with humanity. According to the court, officials who forget the people risk forgetting the very essence of democracy. Bureaucrats are servants of democracy.

Delivering the verdict acquitting Manilal, a resident of Pattathanam in Kollam, in a case where he was accused of quarrelling in the Tehsildar’s office and preventing a government official from performing his duties by snatching a file, Justice P V Kunhikrishnan made this point clear.

The impact of administrative decisions extends beyond paperwork and affects real lives, the court noted. The success of democracy is not just about being governed by an elected government; it also depends on the humane conduct of government officials in upholding democratic principles.

Government officials, whose role is primarily to decide on applications as stipulated by law, must maintain a humane touch in their behaviour. Even if visitors act provocatively, officials should not lose patience, the court emphasised.

An incident that could have been avoided
The case pertains to an incident that occurred in 2020. Manilal’s father-in-law had submitted an application to have a property mutated in his name in the revenue records.

The Tehsildar did not grant permission, citing technical reasons. Later, during a hearing at the Taluk office, the Tehsildar refused to proceed, stating that the presence of another person was not permissible.

This provoked Manilal, who allegedly snatched the file from the section clerk, threw it on the table, and smashed a chair on the floor. The police subsequently filed a chargesheet against him for hurling abusive words and preventing a government official from discharging his duty.

When Manilal filed a discharge petition, the Kollam magistrate dropped a couple of charges but allowed the case to proceed for preventing the official from performing his duties. Manilal then filed a revision petition in the High Court.

In acquitting Manilal, the judge noted that, as a bank manager, his actions should have been avoided. The High Court also observed that the entire episode could have been prevented had the government officials acted with consideration and patience.