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Karnataka CM cancels the appointment order for CAO candidate

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In a recent development in state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after showing the green signal to a recommendation made by his cabinet minister, R Ramalinga Reddy has reverted the order, thus creating embarrassment to his own state government.

On June 14, Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport had written a letter to the CM recommending the appointment of an official, who is facing several departmental inquiries and charges, to the higher post as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). While Siddaramaiah gave a green signal for the recommendation to the appointment on June 17, he reverted his previous orders on July 7, after knowing the actual facts.

This incident has caused reasons to question the stand of the Transport Minister and the CM, who took the decision and recommendation to appoint the person who is already going through departmental inquiries. Earlier on May 16, Dr Vaman N Acharya, chairman of the KSPCB passed the suspension and inquiry order of B R Balagangadhar chief scientific officer (CSO) of KSPCB. He was suspended over pending inquiry based on 14 charges that includes not following the board guidelines, official misuse of power, forming an employees association without the approval of board, not handling Aquative Eco Toxicology wing properly, among others.

The suspension order was signed by CN Shiva Prakash who is a administrative head of KSPCB. However, Balagangadhar who kept his plea in front of court got a stay order on the suspension on June 10, following which the transport minister Ramalinga Reddy sent a recommendation letter to the chief minister recommending him for the top KSPCB board post.

However, in his second letter, which was sent ten days after his first directive, the chief minister stated that CN Shiva Prakash should continue without any change in the CAO post. Thus, Balagangadhar was not allowed to retain the post.

RTI activist and wing commander GB Athri (retired) told dna,"The transport minister, R Ramalinga Reddy needs to give a proper answer on the motive and conspiracy behind his letter to the CM. On the other hand, the CM should also have been sure about his stand for the public post." 

However, Reddy claimed that he was cheated by the officer. He said,"The person who had recommended Balagangadhar's name, hid the suspension orders and facts. I had issued the recommendation letter believing the party workers and some officials. Moving forward, I have asked my officers to verify the background of officers who come for recommendation letters."

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