In a move that suggests the government’s inclination to go slow on alleged cases of corruption against officials, the State Cabinet on Thursday rejected Karnataka Lokayukta’s recommendation on initiating disciplinary proceedings against former Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer S. Shekar, Indian Forest Service officer.
It also rejected the Upalokayukta’s recommendation on initiating disciplinary action against KAS officer Shashidara Bagali, former tahsildar, Jamakandi taluk in Bagalkot district, with regard to charges of illegal sand mining.
Briefing the media on decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the decision to drop charges against Mr. Shekar, who had released Rs. 65 lakh for Youth Services and Sports Department when he was the CEO of Kalaburagi ZP, was because funds were released for promoting rural sports.
Contrary to the Lokayukta report, Mr. Jayachandra said officials of the Youth Services and Sports Department were responsible for irregularities in the utilisation of funds.
Mr. Shekar had not misused funds and he was transferred soon after release of funds.
The Youth Services and Sports Department has been told to conduct a probe to arrest officials responsible for misuse of funds, Mr. Jayachandra said.
The Cabinet rejected the report submitted by the Upalokayukta recommending departmental inquiry in respect of Mr. Bagali, and S.S. Somanna and Siddappa Parappa, who served as tashildars in the taluk. Since officials of Home (Police), Revenue, Mines and Zoology departments too were involved in illegal sand mining, the Cabinet decided to conduct a comprehensive probe to unearth irregularities committed by the officials allegedly involved in illegal sand mining.
The Cabinet dropped charges against K.R. Sundar, retired IAS officer, former Secretary, Karnataka Public Service Commission, with regard to irregularities in the recruitment of probationary officers of KAS 2011.
The Criminal Inquiry Department indicted Mr. Sundar, holding him responsible for non-functioning of CCTVs at the KPSC office. The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms would conduct the probe into the non-functioning of CCTVs, Mr. Jayachandra said.
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