A file photo of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru.
The State government has restored full administrative and financial powers to the director of the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, ending the interim arrangement under which an IAS official had been functioning as administrator of the premier cancer care centre.
The post of the administrator had been created following reports of alleged irregularities and procedural lapses at the institute.
A government order (GO) issued on September 30 followed a detailed review of the administrative set-up at the institute. Officials said the decision was taken in the interest of public service and institutional efficiency. The order restores administrative control — including matters related to staff service, finance, procurement, and human resource management — to the director’s office with immediate effect.
The functioning of the institute has been hampered by the lack of a full-time director, affecting patient care. Frequent administrative changes delayed tendering processes for life-saving medicines and consumables, forcing patients to purchase costly drugs externally, even when covered under health schemes.
Since February last year, when former director V. Lokesh was placed under suspension, the institute has seen four in-charge directors and three administrators. Dr. Lokesh, who headed the Department of Radiation Oncology, was appointed director on October 17, 2022, during the previous BJP government.
After complaints regarding a lack of transparency in procurement, the Congress government set up a three-member committee headed by Arundathi Chandrashekar, Commissioner of Treasuries, to probe the alleged irregularities. Based on the committee’s report, Dr. Lokesh was removed, and Syed Altaf, professor and Head of Surgical Oncology, was appointed in-charge director on February 21, 2024, while IAS officer N. Manjushree was appointed administrator for six months.
Legal challenges followed, and subsequent appointments and resignations of the in-charge directors — Tejaswini B., Ravi Arjun, and Naveen T. — created further instability.
Administrators also changed frequently. After Ms. Manjushree, Naveen Bhat Y. and Avinash Menon Rajendran held charge.
On September 27, the Karnataka Lokayukta launched a suo motu probe into alleged mismanagement following an anonymous complaint. A surprise inspection by Lokayukta B.S. Patil highlighted lapses, including limited oversight by the administrator (IAS official) visiting the hospital once a week.
Following this, Mr. Rajendran was relieved of his post as administrator on September 29, and the government restored full administrative and financial powers to the in-charge director, a move expected to stabilise operations and ensure smooth management of the institute.
Published – October 07, 2025 09:51 pm IST
