The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sippe Gowda dismissed from service; to contest action

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sippe Gowda dismissed from service; to contest action

Staff Reporter

Government employees' association president was suspended in December

KEEPING THE PEACE: The police were called to the scene when some employees of the Karnataka High Court staged a protest on the premises after the president of the State Government Employees' Association, K. Sippe Gowda, was dismissed from service on Tuesday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Scores of advocates, litigants, visitors and judicial employees were taken aback on Tuesday afternoon when some employees of the Karnataka High Court began shouting slogans and marching through the corridors of the building. They staged the protest soon after they were told that Karnataka State Government Employees Association president K. Sippe Gowda had been dismissed from service.

Mr. Gowda was employed as a Court Officer in the High Court and had been president of the association for several years. He was suspended from service on December 20, pending disciplinary action against him.

The suspension order, signed by the Registrar (Judicial), had stated that Mr. Gowda had been suspended for serious dereliction of duty and misconduct.

Some of the employees, who were perturbed by Mr. Gowda's suspension, shouted slogans demanding his reinstatement. When some of them entered the court hall of Justice Shreedar Rao and asked the Court Officer to join them, Mr. Rao took them to task and warned them.

Meanwhile, a group of policemen reached the premises. With the arrival of the police, the protesters sat on the road leading to the office of the Registrar-General of the High Court.

To file appeal

Later, Mr. Gowda, who came to the High Court, told presspersons that he was not connected in any way with the protest and would contest his dismissal by filing a writ petition.

Dismissal criticised

The Karnataka State Government Employees' Association has criticised the dismissal of its president.

The central executive committee of the association will meet here on Wednesday evening to take a decision on the course of action to be taken, according to L. Byrappa, general secretary.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka