THE PAID VACATION CHARGE SHEETED IC- H N KRISHNA APPLIES LONG LEAVE INSTEAD OF RESIGNATION!

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th September 2011 issue-                 

  THE PAID VACATION

CHARGE SHEETED IC- H N KRISHNA APPLIES LONG LEAVE INSTEAD OF RESIGNATION!

The former KPSC chairman and presently Information Commissioner HN Krishna has filed an anticipatory bail in the High Court over the criminal cases filed against him by the CID in respect of irregularities committed by him in KPSC. Simultaneously, he has also applied for a long leave swearing to come back as the Information Commissioner after clearing the cases. But this is only a wishful thinking as the High Court monitored CID probe has made out a strong case against him. In the event of long leave, the tax payer’s money is wasted for paying salary and other perks to H. N. Krishna. The honourable way for him is to resign from the IC post to avoid further humiliation.

H. N. Krishna was nominated to the KPSC as a Member from the Vokkaliga quota and later was made the chairman of KPSC. He, as a chairman of KPSC, enjoyed the cabinet rank perks and facilities. After retiring from the KPSC Chairman, though unconstitutional, he succeeded to become an Information Commissioner through manipulation. However, his manipulations in KPSC, while he was the Chairman could not be forgotten. He is alleged to have played a manipulative role in the selection of KAS candidates.

The High Court was hearing the petitions of candidates who were denied selection to KAS because of corruption, manipulation etc. It directed the CID to probe the scam. While, H. N. Krishna used all his influence to weaken the probe and safeguard himself, it all went in vain.

At last, under the fear of inviting High Court ire, the CID police have filed charge sheet against H. N. Krishna under various sections of criminal law which includes cheating, fraud etc. Now that the probe is conducted by the DIG, one can be sure of skeletons in H. N. Krishna’s cupboard tumbling out. One can bet their last pie to the CID probe digging out many more scams and H. N. Krishna following the footsteps of Punjab PSC Chairman who was raided and the subsequent unearthing of crores of rupees.

H. N. Krishna genuinely apprehended the arrest and subsequent lodging in Parappana Agrahara. So, he has filed an anticipatory bail in the High Court. Decency and public probity demanded H. N. Krishna to resign from the post of Information Commissioner, but, he is still stuck with it.

Of course, it is another matter that H. N. Krishna can not be easily removed from the IC post. It needs Governor’s reference to the Supreme Court and it is a long process which may take months. Despite the helplessness of the Government, there were pressures on H. N. Krishna to quit. Even the other ICs were not favouring a charge sheeted person among them.

Unable to withdraw the pressure, H. N. Krishna, instead of resigning announced going on long leave and making a tall statement that he will assume the duties as IC after clearing his name! This is simply absurd. His term as IC expires in a few months and the case will be dragged for another two or three years.

To put it simply, taxpayer’s money will be used to pay the salary and perks to H. N. Krishna for not doing any work as he is on long leave. There are no chances of him getting back to the IC. And this simply means that he will be enjoying the perks and privileges as IC despite having criminal charges and that too without working.

Definitely and frankly, nobody wants H. N. Krishna to go on long leave, but wants him to resign. And that is all.