Thaindian News

Bangalore, Sep 17 (IANS) Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Friday accepted the resignation of Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda who quit Sunday over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of over 350 non-medical staff to two government run-colleges and hospitals.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who returned here early Friday from trip to China, forwarded the resignation to the governor.

Home Minister V.S. Acharya has been given the additional charge of the medical education portfolio, an official spokesperson said.

Before leaving for China late Saturday, Yeddyurappa had directed Gowda, once his confidant, to resign in the wake of allegations of irregularities in the appointments.

The Karnataka High Court had pulled up Gowda over the alleged scam.

Yeddyurappa had Aug 26 cancelled the appointments to the Hassan and Mysore Medical Colleges and hospitals after a probe by the Medical Education Department secretary I.M. Vittala Murthy confirmed irregularities. Gowda, however, denies any irregularity.

Some of the sacked employees have moved the high court seeking reinstatement.

Gowda is the third minister of the first Bharatiaya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka and south India to quit in the last two years over a controversy.

The first was S.N. Krishnaiah Shetty, who was muzrai (religious endowment) minister. He resigned following allegations of involvement in land purchase and sale to the state-run Karnataka Housing Board.

Haratalu Halappa quit as food and civil supplies minister after he was accused of raping his friend’s wife.

Gowda was under pressure to quit after Yeddyurappa cancelled the appointments of lab technicians, nurses and other non-medical staff.