Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has come under fire over his son Dr Yathindra being permitted to set up lab and diagnostic facility at government-run hospitals in alleged violation code of conduct for Ministers.
Dismissing any wrongdoing, Siddaramaiah claimed that due procedure was followed in awarding the contract. "Everything is legal and transparent. There is nothing wrong in the contract. My son is a doctor by profession. His friend owns the company. He is one of the directors," the CM said.
The CM's son is one of the directors of the company Matrix Imaging Solutions, which will set up the lab. After bagging the contract, Yathindra signed an MOU with the government which has raised issues of conflict of interest.
The diagnostic lab will be set up in the state-run Victoria hospital by April end. The lab claims that it the services provided at the centre will be cheaper than the others.
The issue of conflict of interest snowballed into a controversy as Leader of Opposition BJP in the Legislative Council KS Eshwarappa demanded a probe into the matter.
"Just because he is Chief Minister's son there is nothing that he should not work. But, whoever it is, the tender has to be as per law and rules. Chief Minister has already said that it is as per rules. So let there be investigation on this," Eshwarappa said.
The code of conduct for Ministers (both Union and state) says that "after taking office, and so long as he remains in office, the Minister shall ensure that the members of his family do not start, or participate in, business concerns, engaged in supplying goods or services to that government (excepting in the usual course of trade or business and at standard or market rates) or dependent primarily on grant of licenses, permits, quotas, leases, etc from that government."
The code, posted on government website, also states that the Minister shall report the matter to the Prime Minister, or the Chief Minister as the case may be, if any member of his family sets up, or joins in the conduct and management of, any other business.
The lab will have biochemistry, pathology, CT scan, MRI scans, X-ray and ultrasound facilities for patients.
A post on the Facebook page that updates about the state government programmes, dated April 7 said "The lab is being run in partnership with a private lab, Matrix Solutions. Being run under public-private partnership, the private company will provide the equipment, while the government would give space in the hospital to run the service."
(With PTI inputs)
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