Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Past director lobbying for third extension

• State yet to nominate a member to the search and select committee
• Union Government sends another reminder to the State Government

Bangalore: The controversy surrounding the selection of a new Director for NIMHANS has turned murkier with the State Government yet to nominate a member to the search and select committee that will finalise the candidate for the coveted post.

According to the norms of NIMHANS Board of Management, headed by the Union Health Minister, a three-member search and select committee drawn from the Union Health Ministry, State Government and University Grants Commission (UGC) has to be set up to shortlist and name the next Director. Highly placed sources in the Medical Education Department told The Hindu the State Government is yet to nominate its member despite two reminders from the Union Ministry, delaying the constitution of the committee and hampering the selection process.
“The State Government is of the view that D. Nagaraja, the former Director whose extended term expired on January 30, should get another extension. Although the Union Ministry had written to the State Government to nominate a member in November itself, it is yet to be done. The Centre sent another reminder to the State Government on Monday evening reprimanding it,” a senior official in the department said.

Following the end of Dr. Nagaraja’s term, the Union Ministry appointed S.K. Shankar, Professor and Head of Neuropathology in NIMHANS as Acting Director.

Dr. Nagaraja, who was given a second extension in November 2007, is reported to be lobbying for yet another extension.

It is learnt that he has the backing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Government in the State.

“He has been trying hard to retain the directorship and the fact that he got NIMHANS Registrar M.V. Savitri transferred abruptly because she had initiated the process of appointment of a new Director is an indication. She was not allowed to enter her office despite the Union Ministry’s direction to him to reinstate her till a new Director is named. She was finally allowed to resume work on January 11,” the sources said.