Did IAS Sita Ram move a ‘secret file’ to ‘take over’ govt building?

Jaipur: An interesting aspect has come to light regarding the residence of Collector of newly formed Didwana district. The 2015 batch IAS Sita Ram Jat has been appointed as Collector and a luxurious Dak bungalow with facilities rivalling a five star hotel has been converted into the Collector’s residence. This controversial and objectionable work has been done by PWD.

This one of a kind bungalow was constructed in 2018 with ten rooms and a dedicated ‘CM-Suite’. The bungalow is equipped with modern bathroom, modern kitchen, a huge dining hall, ACs and chandeliers which can rival any five star hotel.

But now the bungalow has been converted into Collector’s Residence with a name plate hung on the entrance. Security has been deputed at the premises and outsiders are not allowed to enter the bungalow.

When in May 2023 Sitaram Jat reached Didwana as OSD, he had one room to himself and as Dak bungalow, other officers like ADM, Additional SP and Deputy SP used to live in other rooms in the building. But a secret file was moved between Sitaram and PWD and as soon as Sitaram was promoted from OSD to Collector on August 7, 2023, the PWD declared the building to be Collector’s residence. All three officers were asked to move out and Collector ‘sahab’ took over the CM suite. Interestingly, the officials that were asked to move out are now living in rented accommodations.

Now that elections are round the corner, the facility of Dak bungalow at district head quarters is not available anymore, which has posed serious problems. A team of Election Commission, that visited Didwana two days back, was accommodated in a guest house in Ladnun, about 40 kilometres away from Didwana. In the future, when observers, media persons and security officials would come here, this same problem will persist.

It is a serious and surprising matter how the luxurious Didwana Dak Bungalow was turned ‘secretly’ into the District Collector’s Bungalow. Most importantly, this building is still recorded as ‘Dak Bungalow’ in Election Commission’s record!