Presidents of four Academies move to High Court as Govt sacks them

Former Presidents of Beary Academy's Rahim Uchil, Yakshayana Bayalata Academy Prof M L Samaga and Lalitha Kala Academy's Chi Su Krishna Shetty have moved to the High Court stating that the present government has sacked them from the posts without any valid reason.

Karnataka Kodava Sahithya Academy President Addanda C Kariyappa had move to the HC much earlier and the Court had issued a notice to the Government to maintain status quo over the same.

However, the Government has given green signal to Kannada Development Authority President Mukhyamantri Chandru and some others to continue in the post, despite the fact that they come from other parties.

Confusion

In the order issued to Sangeetha Nrithya Academy, Yakshagana, Beary and Lalitha Kala Academy, the Government had asked the Presidents to put in their papers stating that they were appointed for three years till the next order is issued by the Government. This has created a sort of confusion.

The fact is that 'appointment till next order of the Government' is applicable only for Boards. Academies are autonomous bodies. The Academies have the bylaws issued by the government as per the recommendations of the Governor and as per this bylaw, three years of power is mandatory.

Boards are under the Government but Academies are autonomous and hence the Government cannot intervene in the functioning of the Academies.

The Government issued the same orders to Boards, Authorities and the Academies. However, following the bylaws four presidents of the Academies did not tender their resignation. Hence on July 3, the government sacked them. Raged by the move of the Government presidents of four Academies moved to the Court questioning the method of the Government.

The Presidents say that they have not been given a valid reason as to why their resignations were sought and later why they were sacked unceremoniously.

“Changing the Presidents and Members of the Academies just because the Government has changed at the state is not a valid reason because the Academies are not political entities,” says Yakshagana Academy's Prof M L Samaga.

Beary Academy's Rahim Uchil says that even if the HC orders status quo, they will continue to remain out of the Academies. Further, the Government cannot appoint another President. In such a case what will be the plight of the Academy? He says that he will tender his resignation once the HC orders him to continue as the President.

Kodava Sahithya Academy President Addanda C Kariyappa says that the incompletion of three years was the reason that he went to the court. As per the interim order he has continued as the President of the Academy.

However, one has to wait and watch if the four presidents who have moved to the Court will get justice or not.