HC: Amend order or appoint KAS officer to Mysore Palace Board

The High Court on Thursday directed State government to either amend the executive order on the appointment of a director to the Mysore Palace Board under the The Mysore Palace (Acquisition and Transfer) Act 1998, or to appoint a KAS (Karnataka Administrative Services) officer within eight weeks.

Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri disposed of the petition filed by K Basavaraje Urs, director, Ursu Mandali Sahakar Sangha Ltd, who had challenged the appointment of B G Indiramma as the director of the Mysore Palace Board.

The petitioner had contended that Indiramma falls neither in the cadre of KAS, Group-A Senior Scale nor KAS Group-A Selection Grade, and that she is in the cadre of Joint Controller belonging to State Accounts Department.

The petitioner had contended that appointing Indiramma was contrary to the executive order, issued by the State government, which states that only an officer of the cadre of KAS Group-A Senior Scale or KAS Group–A Selection Grade, is eligible to hold the post of director of the Mysore Palace Board.

The petitioner further contended that Indiramma is facing several allegations of corruption, and a departmental inquiry is set in motion in the Urban Development Department.