Should the subjects listed in the Cabinet agenda be brought to the knowledge of the minister concerned before they are placed in the Cabinet meeting?

The answer is yes. But some times this practice is overlooked especially when Chief Minister or a senior Cabinet Minister wants a project or report dear to him approved by the Cabinet.

The same thing happened on Thursday. The subject regarding formation of two new districts-Ramanagara and Chickballapur- was listed on the Cabinet agenda. But the subject had been reportedly included without the knowledge of minister concerned,  that is, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar.

When the subject came up for discussion on Thursday, Mr Shettar is said to have expressed his displeasure to the Chief Secretary. “ How the subject has been included without my knowledge?,”  Mr Shettar reportedly asked the Chief Secretary.

Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is understood to have supported Mr Shettar saying, “at least Mr Shettar should have been informed over phone.” Taking a cue from the reaction of two senior Cabinet members, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is learnt to have asked Chief Secretary to defer the subject for next meeting.

At this juncture Mr Shettar clarified that he was not against formation of new districts. “But at least the matter should have been brought to my notice before it was placed,” he said.