Controversial Kannada writer is Akademi's Officiating Secretary

New Delhi, June 1 (UNI) Controversial Kannada writer A Krishnamurthy, who had to face allegations of financial irregularities as Regional Secretary of the Sahitya Akademi at Bangalore, today assumed charge as Officiating Secretary of the Akademi here.

He succeeds famous Malyalam poet Prof. K. Satchidananan, who retired yesterday.

Mr Krishnamurthy was selected as Secretary from among 10 candidates, who were interviewed by a panel that included eminent Kannada playwright Chandrashekhar Kambar and Gujarati critic Bholabhai Patel.

The selection was mired in a controversy after the Union Culture Ministry refused permission to appoint Krishnamurthy, who was investigated by the CBI for a financial irregularity in the Akademi three years ago.

Ministry sources pointed out that the Akademi did not obtain clearance from the Cabinet Screening Committee before the selection to the 'A' Grade post, which is under a general ban.

''The appointment of a new Secretary required prior permission from the Cabinet Screening Committee, which was not sought in this case,'' said a senior Ministry official.

Akademi sources said Mr Krishnamurthy had to assume charge as Officiating Secretary because the Cabinet Screening Committee was yet to sanction the post. Also, he had to face the CBI inquiry into the financial irregularity.

''Beccause of these reasons, Mr Krishnamurthy has been presently appointed as Officiating Secretary of the Akademi,'' the sources said.

Culture Minister Ambika Soni had recently said Mr Krishnamurthy could be appointed the Akademi Secretary only after getting a clean chit from the CBI, which had handled the case against him for allegedly receiving commission for buying stationery for the Akademi.

An internal inquiry by the Akademi absolved him of the charges.

Akademi Chairman Gopichand Narang said the CBI did investigate the allegation against Mr Krishnamurthy two years ago, but when it sent its report to the Central Vigilance Commission, the latter had merely handed out an ''administrative warning'' for an ''administrative lapse''.

The sources said Mr Krishnamurthy had been brought through the backdoor by appointing him as Officiating Secretary for which no prior permission is needed.

Literary circles say Krishnamurthy heads the ''worst organised'' Akademi Regional Office. ''There are no publications, no photographs of authors in his office,'' said a writer based in the capital.

Two prominent academicians - Jawaharlal Nehru University teacher Makarand Paranjpaye and Oriya scholar Sumanyu Satpathi - were on the shortlist of the candidates for the interview, but both stayed away from the interview held on April 14 after it emerged that Krishnamurthy's appointment was a mere formality, the sources said.

However, a group of 30 eminent litterateurs had put their signatures for a campaign in favour of Mr Krishnamurthy.

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