Appointments, lack of minority representation in Karnataka CMO raises concerns
Bengaluru: The appointment of Dr. Rajneesh Goel as Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sparked debates due to concerns about his previous actions. As the former Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department), Dr. Goel has faced criticism for allegedly neglecting to take legal action in significant cases during the BJP government's tenure. These cases include the PSI scam, allegations of 40% commission in the Public Works Department (PWD), hate speeches inciting communal violence, and remarks urging violence against Siddaramaiah, likening him to Tipu Sultan.
N Jayaram, who served as Secretary of the Revenue Department, has also faced scrutiny for granting gomala land illegally to the Sangh Parivar's Rashtrothana Parishat and Jana Seva Trust. Several locations, including Haveri, Kalaburagi, Chikkamagaluru, and Mysuru, were involved in these questionable land grants. Despite these allegations, Jayaram has been appointed as Secretary to the Chief Minister, raising concerns about the fairness of the appointment process in the new government.
The lack of officers from minority communities in the Chief Minister's office has drawn attention, despite the significant contribution of minority community votes to the Congress party's victory in the recent elections. Critics highlight the absence of representation and demand the appointment of eligible Muslim or Christian officers. Concerns are also being raised about appointment of officers from Kuruba Community to which Chief Minister belongs, as Joint Secretaries and Officers on Special duty.
The objection to Dr. Goel's appointment stems from criminal cases filed against numerous activists associated with the BJP and Hindutva organizations like the Bajrang Dal. Although the cases were pending in court, Dr. Goel submitted a file to the Cabinet advocating for the withdrawal of these cases. Moreover, Dr. Goel's office refused to provide information regarding the withdrawal of cases against the PFI and the SDPI activists, despite Siddaramaiah's inquiry during his time as Leader of the Opposition. Additionally, Dr. Goel did not instruct to take action against Minister Dr. Ashwath Narayan, who made provocative statements inciting violence against Siddaramaiah.
During a joint meeting with top police officials, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, concerns were raised about the Police Department's failure to address hate speeches and incitements to violence against Siddaramaiah, resulting in societal turmoil and unrest. The meeting also highlighted the issue of police officers harassing Priyank Kharge, who exposed documents related to the PSI scam. Dr. Goel, in his capacity as Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, attended the meeting. The lack of opposition to Dr. Goel's appointment despite these controversies has become a subject of discussion. Siddaramaiah had previously accused the Police Department of corruption in officer transfers and delays in obtaining statements from ADGP Amrit Paul, who was suspected of involvement in the PSI scam. However, as Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, Dr. Goel did not take any action in response to these allegations.
The appointment of N Jayaram, who served as Secretary of the Revenue Department under the BJP government, as Secretary to the Chief Minister has garnered mixed responses from officers. During Jayaram's tenure, illegal grants of gomala land were made to the Sangh Parivar's Jana Seva Trust and the Rashtrothana Parishat. The Jana Seva Trust was granted 35 acres of land at a 5% rate, resulting in a loss of over Rs. 139 crores for the government. Siddaramaiah, who previously expressed ideological differences with the preceding BJP government, has now appointed an officer involved in granting fertile land illegally to Sangh Parivar-affiliated organizations as his secretary, leading to further discussions and debates.
In summary, the appointment of Dr. Rajneesh Goel as Additional Chief Secretary, the appointment of N Jayaram as Secretary to the Chief Minister, and the lack of representation from minority communities in the Chief Minister's office have raised concerns and sparked debates.
About 90 per cent of the Muslims and Christians have voted for the Congress in this year’s elections and have played a major role in getting the Congress to power in the state. There are many eligible and capable officers who are either Muslims or Christians. Questions are now being raised on the sidelining of such officers for appointment to the posts in the Chief Minister’s office. The Chief Minister should pay attention to the matter immediately and appoint eligible Muslim or Christian officers, demanded Ida Margaret, General Secretary of the Indian Christian United Forum.
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Bengaluru: Karnataka’s district judiciary is facing a significant shortage of judicial officers, with approximately 27.5% of positions across the state's district courts remaining vacant.
According to data cited by The Times of India on Tuesday, out of a total of 21,541 positions, 5,926 remain unfilled, leading to concerns about the efficiency of the state's justice system.
Bengaluru city is particularly affected, with 835 vacancies out of 2,510 sanctioned posts. Bengaluru Rural courts follow closely with 532 vacant positions from a total of 1,003 sanctioned roles. Mandya district shows an alarming vacancy rate, with 376 vacancies against 844 sanctioned positions.
Several other major districts are also grappling with alarming staffing deficits, including Mysuru (299 vacancies) Belagavi (345), Tumakuru (279), Dakshina Kannada (312), and Hassan (207).
Apart from vacancies of judicial officers, 243 of the 1,395 sanctioned posts for district judge, ad-hoc district judge, senior civil judge and civil judge remain vacant, the report added.
Legal experts have stressed that addressing the judicial vacancy crisis should be a priority for the state government to ensure the effective functioning of the justice delivery system. These staffing shortages may contribute significantly to case backlogs and undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M.B. Patil, recently stated in the legislative assembly that efforts to fill the vacancies are underway. He cited a notification from February 2025, which will see 158 civil judge positions filled in the near future.
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