BANGALORE: A note sent by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy four months ago to issue a show-cause notice to senior IAS officer K. Shivaramu in connection with "a case of gross official misconduct" is yet to be acted upon.

Efforts to get a reaction from Chief Secretary B.K. Das proved futile. Senior officials of the Social Welfare Department remained tight-lipped about the matter. "The department is not at all concerned with the issue," an official said.

Minister for Social Welfare Balachandra Jarkiholi acknowledged the delay in issuing the show-cause notice. "The delay was because of work pressure. The show-cause notice will be sent to Mr. Shivaramu shortly. Further action will be taken by the Chief Minister," Mr. Jarkiholi told The Hindu .

It was on February 21 that the Chief Minister acted on a recommendation made by the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, that a show cause notice be issued to Mr. Shivaramu.

In fact, the issue of taking disciplinary action against Mr. Shivaramu has been pending for a year. On May 21, 2005, Lokayukta N. Venkatachala submitted a report holding Mr. Shivaramu, who was Commissioner of Social Welfare, guilty of gross official misconduct and causing a loss of Rs. 983.47 lakh of government funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Besides recommending an inquiry against the official, Mr. Venkatachala also told the Government that Mr. Shivaramu be prevented from holding any public office/post of trust pending the outcome of the inquiry. The Lokayukta had also asked the Government to inform him within three months about the action taken on the report.

According to official records available with The Hindu , the Lokayukta's report was sent by the Deputy Registrar of Lokayukta to the Chief Secretary in May 2005. The Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, was asked to look into the report and frame charges, if necessary. The department was also asked to send a proposal with the approval of the then Minister for Social Welfare, Y. Nagappa.

Mr. Nagappa noted on the file that there was no need to conduct an inquiry and forwarded it to the then Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh. The Chief Minister's office returned the file to the Social Welfare Department without passing any order.

The Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department, wrote that it was necessary to issue a show-cause notice to Mr. Shivaramu and inquire into the charges made by the Lokayukta. The department sent the file to the Chief Minister with a draft show-cause notice and a draft article of charges.

On February 21, Mr. Kumaraswamy permitted a show-cause notice to be issued. He also said that the matter of transferring Mr. Shivaramu from the post of Commissioner of Social Welfare would be considered after the notice was issued.

Mr. Shivaramu was transferred from the post of Commissioner of Social Welfare on May 17. He has not been given any posting.

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