BENGALURU: With the state government finally appointing chairpersons to several boards and corporations, a city based advocate Amruthesh N.P, has approached the high court challenging the appointments of chairpersons, directors and members to several public sector enterprises (PSEs).

The petitioner has filed a PIL highlighting political reasons in appeasing political bigwigs, the defeated candidates in the Lok Sabha, Vidhana Sabha and also political party workers especially members of the Legislative Assembly, who did not get a berth in the state cabinet.

“The appointments which are made to some of the loss-making PSEs are remarkable. These appointments are done solely to satisfy the hard core political party workers.

It is relevant to state that till today, there are no proper guidelines and basic qualifications for the posts of chairman, director and member to the different PSEs,” it states.

The petition seeks to call for records with regard to the appointment of the non-official chairman to public sector enterprises – Mysore Paper Mills Ltd; Mysore Sugar Company Ltd; NGEF (Hubli Ltd); Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company Ltd; Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Ltd; North-East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation; North-West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation; Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd; Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigama Ltd; Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation Ltd; Dr Babu Jagjeevan Ram Leather Industries Development Corp Ltd; Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation Ltd; Karnataka State Coir Development Corporation Ltd and Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Ltd.

And it further seeks to quash the appointments of non-official chairman to several public sector enterprises.

It also states that there is already a report – the Padmanabaiah Report, submitted to the government, that for loss-making organisations there should be no post of chairman and therefore the appointment is wrong by law.

“The appointment of a chairman to the loss-making companies would be a burden on the state exchequer and public money has been wasted in satisfying the egos of some politically influential people.”

The petitioner also seeks directions from the state government, to frame guidelines and set the basic qualifications for the posts of the chairman, director and members in the public sector enterprises. The high court has adjourned the matter.