The Karnataka High Court stayed the Lok Ayukta report on the drugs scam which had asked the State government to take action against three officials in the drugs control department for alleged misappropriation in the purchase of medicines.

Justice H Rangavittalachar issued the stay on the petitions filed by two officials R Anand Rajashekar, former drugs controller and H Jayaram, additional drugs controller. The judge has also issued notices to the Lok Ayukta.

The Lok Ayukta had submitted the report to the government on September 16, 2003 to initiate disciplinary action against all the three officials( Anand Rajashekar, Jayaram and BG Prabha Kumar) and take up an appropriate enquiry as provided in Rule 14-A of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957 to be undertaken against the drugs department officials under the KLA Act, at the earliest.

The Rs.300 crore drugs scam which was unearthed on March 26, 2003, by the Lok Ayukta revealed that there are serious lapses and irregularities committed by the three officials who have now been sacked from duty.