The Hindu : HC issues show cause on Academy imbroglio

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 01, 2004

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HC issues show cause on Academy imbroglio

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, JAN. 31. The Rajasthan High Court has issued show-cause notice to the State Government on the removal of the noted author and journalist, Ved Vyas, as chairman of the Rajasthan Sahitya Academy. The new Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government in the State had removed Mr. Vyas and other members of the academy through an order on December 23.

Justice Gyan Sudha Misra of the Rajasthan High Court in her order has given the Government three weeks time to submit a reply. The court has ordered status quo in the functioning of the Academy.

The court order follows a petition from Mr. Vyas and two others -- Shyam Maharshi, the executive member and Salim Khan Pareed, member of the Saraswati Sabha -- challenging the State Government's action dissolving the senior management of the Academy. The petition also challenged the appointment of the District Collector at Udaipur as the administrator of the Academy.

Counsel for the petitioners, S.R. Bajva and Rajendra Prasad Sharma, alleged a political motive behind the Government action in disturbing the existing set-up in the Academy. The change of Government in the State did not mean that there should be a change in the administration of the Academy as the body was non-political, they argued.

The petitioners pointed out that the changes disturbed the working of the Academy and the activities including the annual award selection, grants as well as publication of books and the monthly magazine, "Madhumati'', were being held up.

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