Husband denied job, wife quits

The letter was termed by highly-placed sources in Government as “childish”, “emotional” and “amounting to black-mail”.

In her resignation letter, Renuka Vishwanathan is said to have taken exception to the appointment of T Madiyal as City Police Commissioner. She contended that her spouse R Vishwanathan now Additional Director General of Police (Transport, Telecommunications and Modernisation) was Madiyal’s senior and therefore deserved to be policecommissioner.

Government sources held that the post of City Police Commissioner was a “selection” post, and that the Chief Minister had discretionary powers to choose an officer for such a position.

The resignation unprecedented in the history of the Civil Services in the State was apparently sent to Bhattacharya more than two weeks ago. Sources in Government revealed that the Chief Secretary held back the letter hoping that Renuka Vishwanathan would meet him in person. When the IAS officer who made a name for herself during her tenure as Managing Director of the Karnataka State Finance Corporation did not withdraw the letter, Bhattacharya sent the letter to the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister, who was reportedly "amused" by the letter, decided to keep the letter in abeyance, hoping that Renuka would come around. When that did not happen, Krishna directed Bhattacharya to forward the letter to the President, conveying that the resignation could be accepted.

Highly-placed sources in theGovernment told this newspaper that the President’s office was likely to ask Renuka Vishwanathan to send in her papers in the prescribed format.

Apparently, there was a problem with the resignation letter drafted by Renuka Vishwanathan. The letter was addressed to the State Chief Secretary, whereas it should have been addressed to the President of India, who is the appointing authority in case of Central Services.

Any IAS officer who tenders his/her resignation can withdraw the same within a period of 90 days from the date of resignation.