JOIN USSocial activist S R Hiremath on Thursday urged the State government to order an investigation into the irregularities at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in Mysuru.
He said an independent probe should be ordered based on the report submitted by Director General of ATI Rashmi Mahesh.
“The detailed letter by Rashmi to the chief secretary, dated October 15, 2014, gives an overall picture of the scandal at the ATI during the tenure of Amita Prasad as the Director General. We want to take up this important matter on priority and urge the government to order an independent inquiry by a person of high integrity and competence,” Hiremath said.
He said that Rashmi's letter prima facie proves irregularities to the tune of several crores of rupees in ATI during 2008-2014. “I am afraid the chief secretary is not taking the issue seriously. We have learnt that Amita Prasad has been asked to place comments on the allegations. During her additional responsibility as the director general of ATI, Amita Prasad, was also the Principal Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and the Urban Development Department. The leniency shown by her seniors is unacceptable,” he said.
Hiremath said he met Minister for Medical Education Dr Sharanaprakash Patil to draw his attention to the ‘illegal’ appointments made at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi. “KIMS has been plagued by corruption and irregularities for many years. We have requested the minister to immediately move the chief administration officer (CAO) of KIMS Hubballi, who is the kingpin of the scam in KIMS.
Ashok Kumar had also manipulated the selection process of the director for KIMS. Dr DD Bant, who has been selected as the director, does not meet the key criteria of having the experience of serving as a professor for at least five years,'' he said, adding that the minister has assured action.