The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Violation of rules in the selection of major State cultural awards

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Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Violation of rules in the selection of major State cultural awards

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

Was the participation of former chairpersons of academies in the selection process legally valid?

Government in a fix on whether or not to reject the selected names for the awards
Portfolio of Kannada and Culture is now held by Chief Minister Yeddyurappa

Bangalore: There has been “gross violation” of the rules and established procedures pertaining to the selection of eight major annual State cultural awards by the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, during the period of President’s Rule in the State.

The Bharatiya Janata Party Government is said to be in a fix on whether or not to reject the selected names for the prestigious Chowdaiah, Kanaka–Purandara, Janapada Sri, Danachintamani Attimabbe, Jakanachari, Varnashilpi Venkatappa, Natyarani Shantala and Gubbi Veeranna annual awards as the issue is culturally and politically sensitive in nature.

It has now become imperative for the Government to reconstitute all the award selection committees as Manu Baligar, the Director of Kannada and Culture, who was also the statutory member-secretary of all the award selection committees, had “overlooked” the governing norms.

According to sources, the Director of Kannada and Culture is held solely responsible for accommodating the former chairpersons of the academies, who relinquished their posts on March 31, in selection committees in violation of the rule and established procedure despite “advises”.

On June 12, 2008, in an official response to the Director, the then Secretary to Kannada and Culture I.M. Vittalamurthy had clarified that the Government could not consider the recommendations as it is “improper” and “irregular.” The portfolio of Kannada and Culture is now held by none other than Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Mr. Baligar took charge as the Director of Kannada and Culture in the first week of November 2007. The annual award selection and presentation process was to be completed on or before March 31, 2008. Incidentally, the tenure of all the academies, barring the Anuvada academy, expired on March 22. For accommodating the completion of pending works, the Government extended the tenure of the academies up to March 31, but did not issue a Government Order to that effect.

At the official behest of Directorate of Kannada and Culture, some of the heads of academies participated in the awards selection process as mandatory members of the respective selection committees. The crux of the issue is whether their participation in the awards selection process is legally valid?

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