Well known writer and folklore expert Dr M S Latthe hailing from Gulbarga has been nominated to  the committee to select a person for the prestigious Janapada Sri Award. However Dr Latthe, a retired professor of Gulbarga University Kannada department, had passed away on November 19. Its about two months since he died. The ignorant government, the Department of Kannada and Culture in particular has committed grave faux pas by nominating him to the committee.

Enquiry made by the Deccan Herald revealed that the Committee has been constituted by the Secretary and Director of the Kannada and Culture department. The sources said the Directorate did not consult its officials down the line before nominating a person. The fact that Dr Latthe was a folklore expert was enough for the government to nominate him.

Other members of the committee headed by Eashwarappa Gurappa Angadi of Bagalkot include Dr G R Thippeswamy of Mysore, Gulbarga Doordarshan Kendra Director Banandur Kempaiah and Dr K Chennappa Gowda of Mangalore. Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy Chairman is the ex-officio secretary and Director of Kannada and Culture is the Member Secretary of the Committee.

The State Government on Monday had issued notifications on the constitution of committees to select persons for various state awards coming under the department of Kannada and Culture.