In a major turn of events, appointment of Dr. H. Sudarshan as director (vigilance) of Karnataka Lok Ayukta is being questioned by Samantha Rural Development and Research Centre, a Davangere based non government organisation (NGO).

The NGO has contended in a memorandum to the Karnataka governor, T N Chaturvedi that Dr. Sudarshan's appointment was not in accordance with the Act as he was not an officer of the State or the Union Government. He did not represent any investigation agency. Further, there was no post of the director of vigilance by the rules pertaining to the establishment of the Lok Ayukta.

The NGO has petitioned to the Karnataka governor questioning the continuance of Dr. Sudarshan as the director, vigilance of Lok Ayukta, especially in the context of unearthing drugs scam in the State drugs control department. Dr. Sudarshan who is a winner of the Magsaysay Award is known for the medical services he rendered for the tribal people in the State and had won both friends and enemies in the government circles.

Reliable sources in the government expressed that Karnataka would have missed a sizeable portion of the World Bank assistance for the department of health and family welfare because of the stand took by Dr. Sudarshan.

Dr. Sudarshan did not support the need for loan from the international funding agency at a recent review meeting for further sanctions. He, instead, highlighted the rampant corruption in the state health department and the squandering of World Bank assistance. The sanction was almost lost because of Dr. Sudarshan accusations at the meeting against the health and family welfare department and the government officials had a tough time in explaining to the World Bank team about the need for a loan from them.

Dr. Sudarshan was appointed as Special Investigating Agent (Medical) on a remuneration of a token Re.1 a month in November 2001. His tenure is co-terminus with that of the Lok Ayukta, Justice N Venkatachala. The retired Supreme Court judge's five year term ends in 2006. At that time, the government had noted that under Section 15 of the Karnataka Lok Ayukta Act, the Lok Ayukta or the Upa Lok Ayukta can utilize the services of an officer or investigating officer of the State or the Union government or any other agency for the purpose of conducting investigation.

M T Subhaschandra, president, Samantha Rural Development and Research Centre has made a representation to the Governor of Karnataka that Dr. Sudarshan has been receiving funds from the government and urged to terminate the services of the Lok Ayukta.

Meanwhile, government of Karnataka is hell bent on receiving the final report on the investigations of the drugs scam. The government is convinced that only Dr. Sudarshan and Justice Venkatachala could have unearthed the Rs.300 crore drug scam where officials of the drugs department went scot free for so long.