Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Nov 12: Through an order issued on Tuesday November 11, the government has entrusted the investigation into the omissions, commissions and lapses if any committed in the appointment of 12,321 persons in Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTCL), five electric supply companies (ESCOMS) and the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Corporation, made during the tenure of H D Revanna, the then energy minister. Revanna was in charge of the energy portfolio in the Congress-JD (S) coalition government headed by Dharam Singh and again in the JD (S)-BJP coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.
The charges, accusations and threats hurled by the ministers on one hand and H D Revanna, chairman of Karnataka Milk Federation on the other, on the milk price hike issue have snowballed into a major cause for a show-down between the two sides. With the decision of the government to refer various complaints of nepotism, irregularities and mistakes committed while appointing people to various corporations under Revanna’s departments under Karnataka Lokayukta Act 1984, column 7(A), the war between the two sides has worsened further. While 12,281 people were appointed in KPTCL and five escoms between 2003 and 2007, 40 appointments were made in the Renewable Energy Development Corporation. After getting a report of the KPTCL over the appointments made to the posts of the station attendants grade-2 and assistant linemen, the government has prima facie found that preference to people belonging to a particular class and region was shown in these appointments.
In the meanwhile, a petition moved by H D Revanna, KMF chairman and nine directors, seeking to vacate directions issued by the state government under the state co-operatives act 30(b), was admitted by the High Court for hearing. The petitioners contended that the repeated interference by the government in the affairs of the KMF and the frequent audits of the KMF are denting the trustworthiness of the corporation. Chief secretary of the department of cooperation, registrar of cooperative societies and the auditors have been shown as defendants in the case. However, as the government has filed caveat in the matter, hearing is likely to be delayed.
Reacting to the action of the KMF, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said that he has no comments to make on the issue, as the cooperation minister Lakshman Savadi is looking after the matter.