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Sham Bhatt gets guv nod for KPSC top job

Last Updated 07 August 2016, 20:29 IST

Governor Vajubhai Vala has given his nod to appoint IAS officer T Sham Bhatt as chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

The state government is yet to notify Bhatt’s appointment and it is likely to happen on Monday, sources said.

Bhatt’s candidature as KPSC chairman has been mired in controversy ever since the government recommended his name to the governor in May this year.

Several organisations had submitted petitions to the governor requesting him to reject the recommendation as a number of cases against Bhatt were still pending before the Lokayukta.

They had also stated that there were charges of irregularities against the officer during his tenure as BDA commissioner and that he was involved in the Arkavathi Layout denotification scam. The opposition BJP and JD(S) also had stated that Bhatt was not fit for the coveted post.

In June first week, the governor’s office had asked for a report on the complaints against Bhatt. The office of the Lokayukta in its report had stated that there were more than 30 complaints pending against Bhatt. The report stated that in two complaints, reports under Section 12 (3) of the Lokayukta Act, recommending action, had been sent to the government. However, one of the reports recommending action was recalled by the then Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao and a second report was sent dropping Bhatt’s name. In 2014 and 2015, as many as 13 complaints against Bhatt were closed.

According to sources, the Raj Bhavan seems to be satisfied that there was nothing much against Bhatt and accepted the government’s recommendation. When contacted, Bhatt said he is yet to receive the appointment order. Bhatt was transferred out of BDA in June and posted as principal secretary, co-operation department.

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(Published 07 August 2016, 20:29 IST)

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