It was Monday morning blues for Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri. He was faced with the ignominy of explaining to the Legislative Assembly that his name was erroneously entered in the ‘missing persons' list' in Dharwad police station. He made pains to point out that he was very much present in the State and the “missing complaint” against him was politically motivated.
Police complaint
A group of striking teachers, obviously disgruntled with the department's tardiness in meeting their demands, filed a complaint in the Dharwad police station stating that Mr. Kageri and the department's Principal Secretary, Kumara Naik, were “missing”. They urged the police to trace them.
In a reply to Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Revanna during Zero hour, Mr. Kageri said he had been attending the session regularly all last week and there was no truth in the complaint by the teachers.
“My department has done good work and is continuing to do good work. The complaint is politically motivated,” Mr. Kageri said.
Monthlong strike
The teachers have been striking work in Dharwad for more than a month demanding appointment to the posts of headmasters.
Explanation
Mr. Kageri explained that the department had proposed to fill 75 per cent of posts of headmasters through promotions and the rest by direct recruitment by the Karnataka Public Service Commission. A total of 629 candidates have been selected, but placement was delayed following a case pending before the Karnataka High Court.
Last week, the court had given a ruling in favour of the Government, he said.
He said he had met the striking teachers and informed them about the procedural delays in the appointment of headmasters.
