BANGALORE: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is said to have decided to appoint Dr Syed Akheel Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Mysore, as the next chairman of the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).
An official order in this regard is likely to be out shortly, sources in the government said.
If appointed, Ahmed will be the first minority representative to head the KPSC. Earlier, the CM had appointed his confidant C M Ibrahim as the deputy chairman of the State Planning Board. The Ahinda or Minorities-Backward Classes-Dalits grouping is regarded as Siddaramaiah’s base.
The KPSC has remained headless after the previous chairman Gonal Bimappa’s term ended last year. Presently, there are six members in the panel, including the suspended Mangala Sridhar. The total strength of the KPSC is 10, including the chairman.
The chairman post is for a six-year tenure or till the chairman turns 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Ahmed, who has strong academic credentials, was a regular name whenever there was shortlisting of names for the vice-chancellor’s post.
When contacted, an elated Ahmed said he is yet to get a formal order.
“I know it is coming, but until I receive the order, it is difficult to react,” he told Express.
Ahmed has 37 years of experience in teaching postgraduates at various Universities in India and abroad. He also has several publications in national and international journals, citations and books to his credit.
His key research areas include biochemistry and biotechnology, environmental science, polymer science and technology and chemistry.
Though Ahmed is not said to be very close to the CM, both knew each other for a long time, sources said.
“Siddaramaiah must have chosen him because he has an unblemished track record and integrity,” a source, who knows both the CM and Ahmed, told Express.
The KPSC was in the centre of controversy over the recruitment of gazetted probationary officers for the 2011 batch. Recently, the government quashed the list forwarded by the KPSC following widespread corruption charges.
A case has been filed against former chairman Gonal Bimappa on alleged irregularities in the recruitment. The government’s decision is challenged in the court.