Shabby Welcome for SC Judge Altamas Kabir

Senior Supreme Court Judge Altamas Kabir, who was recently in Bangalore for the Convocation function of National Law School of India University, received a shabby welcome at the state-owned Kumara Krupa State Guest House..Senior Supreme Court Judge Altamas Kabir (pictured), who was recently in Bangalore for the Convocation function of National Law School of India University, received a shabby welcome at the state-owned Kumara Krupa State Guest House. Justice Kabir was welcomed by a sleepy attendant and was allotted an ordinary room instead of the VVIP room booked for him, reports Bangalore Mirror..Stained linen on the bed and torn towels in the bathroom were a welcome sight for Justice Kabir. On requesting for a change, the attendant informed Justice Kabir that the same was possible next morning only..Justice Kabir could have checked into any of the star hotels in the city, but ‘his love of simple living’ made him check into the state guest house. The department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR), which maintains the guest house, had allotted Room No. 2 on the ground floor for Justice Kabir. However, it was the on-duty attendant who checked him into Room No. 9 on the first floor..Justice Kabir stayed the night in that ordinary room and brought the same to the notice of Justice J. S. Kehar, Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka. Immediately thereafter, Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath and DPAR secretary Sanaulla were summoned to the guest house. Apologising profusely, the bureaucrats ensured that Justice Kabir shifted to Room No.2, which is reserved for VVIPs..The Chief Secretary asked the DPAR secretary to conduct an inquiry into the matter and submit a report in 24 hours. The four guest house employees found guilty were placed under suspension on Monday..A senior bureaucrat told Bangalore Mirror, “The guest house attendants are government employees who do not know the ABCD of hospitality. It is high time the staff is shifted from this place to other government offices. A professional agency should be outsourced the job of managing the guest house”..He further added “Karnataka is known for its hospitality. But the treatment meted out to Justice Kabir has besmeared our image. The judge was gentle enough not to scream at the chief secretary and the DPAR secretary. They would not have been spared had it been a politician instead”..It is such a shame that the one of the highest judicial officer of the country gets such a treatment at the state owned guest house. It is high time that the condition of the state owned guest houses should be improved and better hospitality is provided to these dignitaries.