BENGALURU: “When two ministers and the advocate general came to persuade me to accept their invitation to head the Karnataka Border Protection Commission, I openly said that I will not come with a begging bowl for everything before the government... The government should ensure required accommodation, staff, allocation of budget to defend the state before the apex court on border disputes... But the bureaucrats are indifferent and have neglected the Commission...” This was the reaction of Justice V S Malimath, Chairman, Karnataka Border Protection Commission, to the government turning a blind eye to the Commission’s demands.
Proper accommodation aside, even a driver was not provided to him. Hence, Justice Malimath has been commuting to office using his personal vehicle over the past five months.
The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) has not provided the required staff and accommodation for the functioning of the Commission even five months after he took charge. The Commission is now functioning out of a cramped space at the M S Building with only three staff members.
Upset with the “insensitive attitude” of the bureaucrats, Justice Malimath said, “After I came out openly on the state losing some villages of Belagavi to Maharashtra, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra and then Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar met me. They asked me to be chief of the Commission. I refused, but they persuaded me... I finally accepted the responsibility as it involves the state’s interests. Now, the Commission was neglected,” he rued.
On the recommendation of the Commission, the state government constituted a high-powered committee to help it take political decisions on the border issues and approved the appointment of 18 staff as against the 22 sought by the panel chief. The Commission was also asked to outsource work. But this was not acceptable to Justice Malimath as he thought that outsourcing agencies will exploit the staff by giving lesser salaries.
Therefore, Justice Malimath suggested other modes of appointment like deputation, contract or direct recruitment. He has written a strong letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently.
In the letter, Justice Malimath appreciated Siddaramaiah for constituting a high-powered committee proposed by him. “I hope the order will be issued soon. But I have proposed to constitute a local committee at Belagavi to meet the long-standing demand of the people of Belagavi. This does not involve any additional budget, but helps to address the grievances of the people in border... Though I have made the above proposal to the concerned secretaries to government, orders have not been passed yet.
“In the absence of orders on these matters, I would not even be able to convene a meeting to discuss important matters. Further delay would seriously affect the interests of state”, Justice Malimath told Siddaramaiah.