The Centre has constituted a committee of eminent persons to undertake an independent probe into the functioning of the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi and suggest corrective measures to restore its prestige.
According to sources, the committee will be chaired by former secretary to the Centre V Subramanian and include Kerala Kalamandalam vice-chancellor KG Paulose, Odissi dancer Ranjana Gauhar, National School of Drama director Anuradha Kapur and Central Government Standing Counsel Atul Nanda. The committee has been given four weeks? time to submit its report.
It is learnt that the Prime Minister?s Office is keenly monitoring the developments concerning the Akademi and has asked the ministry of culture, the administrative ministry for the Akademi, to take steps to control the problem. Sources said the decision to constitute the committee was taken following directions issued by the Delhi High Court on the petition of a group of eminent artists, all of who are elected members of the Akademi?s General Council.
These members have levelled serious allegations against Akademi chairman Ashok Vajpeyi and secretary Sudhakar Sharma, accusing both of running the Akademi in an autocratic manner. They had also alleged that some persons who were not qualified to continue as members of the council were participating in meetings despite objections raised by them.
Sources said the committee has been asked to hear all elected members as well as office-bearers of the Akademi. It would also go through the records, including financial records, of the Akademi.