HASSAN: Lokayukta Superintendent of Police V. Ramaiah had a surprise in store when he visited the Morarji Desai Residential School in Kandali village of Hassan taluk on Wednesday.

He found that two types of "upma" were prepared in the hostel. For the 15-plus teachers and staff, the "upma" was prepared with all necessary ingredients — groundnuts, oil and coconut. But for the 225 students, the "upma" served had none of these. Worse still, Mr. Ramaiah found that rotten tomato had been used.

The warden was not present. The cook did not show the records saying that they were in possession of the warden. Students informed the official that serving two types of food was a regular practice at the hostel.

Mr. Ramaiah told The Hindu that he pulled up the staff for denying good food to children. He visited the pre-Matric hostel near Gandsi in Arsikere Taluk. The hostel had 40 students. "I did not find any vegetables in the `sambar'," he said.

Mr. Ramaiah said he then visited the Primary Health Centre at Gandsi. There was no doctor. The stock reply was that the doctor had gone to a village to see patients. Which village? They had no answer.

In the doctor's room, he found old injection vials. The expiry date mentioned on ampicillin, paracetamol and hydrochloride injections was September 2006. When he sought the keys of the store room, he was told that they were with the doctor.

Mr. Ramaiah said he had written to the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer about these irregularities besides seeking a reply on the action taken. He also spoke to the District Surgeon on the use of old drugs.

"If we do not receive reply on the action taken by the ZP Chief Executive Officer and the District Surgeon within one week, we will write to the Upa Lokayukta to register cases against the concerned," he said.

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