V.S. Malimath, former Chief Justice of Karnataka and Kerala High Court and Chairman of the Karnataka Border Protection Commission, who died late on Tuesday night in Bengaluru, was terribly disappointed by the allegedly indifferent attitude of the State government to the extent of prompting him to resign to the post, said Belagavi District Kannada Organisations Action Committee President Ashok Chandargi.
Mr. Chandargi, in his condolence message, recalled from his one-to-one discussion on the measures to be taken to protect State’s interest vis-à-vis boundary dispute with Maharshtra before the Supreme Court since eleven years, and on development of Kannada and implementation of Kannada language in administration in boundary districts in particular, besides bridging gaps on regional imbalances at the Commission’s office in Bengaluru on Nov.21 that Dr. Malimath was terribly disappointed over complete lack of support of the government.
The late Chairman had expressed that the government was not only fully neglected but also failed to respond and reciprocate on serious matters. He felt that his appointment to such an important Commission had become redundant and there was no point in continuing on the post.
However, Mr.Chandargi requested to wait for some more time stating that BDKOAC members would meet the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sensitise him on the need to extend full support to the Commission.
But, when the BDKOAC members met the Chief Minister during latter’s visit to Belagavi on Dec. 20 and apprised him about the feelings of Dr.Malimath and other issues of boundary areas, Mr.Siddaramaiah, as usual was shockingly indifferent and failed to give any positive assurance and instil confidence that the government stood with the Commission and people of boundary areas of North Karnataka.
He said though the government accorded the Chairman of the Commission the rank of a Cabinet Minister, no legislator or official worth the post bothered him to reciprocate to various matters he took up with them, reducing the status of the chairman to that of a figurehead. There was no response to his letters on several important matters from the government, which made him to feel “neglected” amounting to not showing due respect to his post.
Mr.Chandargi, said Dr.Malimath was ailing due to bacterial infection, he was under tremendous stress due to his helplessness as Chairman of the Commission, his death was due to government’s negligence and indifferent attitude.
