MYSORE: The University of Mysore’s seven employees have come under the scanner following their meeting with JD(S) candidate G T Devegowda, who is contesting from Chamundeshwari segment.
The general observer P Satyanarayana Reddy is now seized of the matter while the Returning Officer for Chamundeshwari segment, A M Basavaraju, is awaiting reply from the varsity, sources told The Times of India. The varsity has served notice to the seven staff. They have been asked to explain telling them that it is a clear case of violation of model code of conduct. The employees have time till 5 pm, Thursday to present their case and appear before the registrar.
We are awaiting the response from the varsity. In case it doesn’t act, we’ll inform the Election Commission of the lapse and ask it to step in, sources stated on Wednesday. The show cause notice was issued to seven employees-K G Gowda, R S Ramesh, Satyaraje Urs, Meravanna, Shivanna, Rajendra and Mahadeva-and asked them to explain their visit and meeting with Devegowda at his residence on April 20.
Sources said the general observer received the information about their meeting with the JD(S) candidate, who alerted the DC C Shikha. The DC passed on the message to the RO, who followed it up. “The tip off was specific. The informer had explained even the time and vehicle they would arrive in to the JD(S) candidate’s residence at Vijayanagar II Stage. We got it videographed without their knowledge and sent a CD containing the clipping to the varsity registrar asking him to initiate action,” they explained.\
The RO wrote a letter to the registrar on April 24 giving him seven days time to explain and marked a copy to the observer. “The reply is awaited. In case the varsity doesn’t act, it will be informed to the EC for further action,” they stated.
In the notice, the varsity referring to the model code of conduct in place since March 20 said: As the employees of the varsity, an autonomous institution attached to the government, it is clear case of violation of poll code to meet the candidate. As per the DPAR’s order dated March 21, any government employee who works for the candidate can be jailed for three months or fined. It is also violation of the Mysore University Employees Services (Conduct) Statues, 1984 and disciplinary action can be initiated. The notice states that the seven staff were filmed when they came to Devegowda’s residence.
