Madras High Court suspends Maargazhi Festival in Chennai following corruption charges

The Maargazhi Festival held in Chennai every year by the Music Academy draws musicians and music lovers from across the country. It is the grand finale of Carnatic music calendar. TROUBLED TIME: The functioning of the Music Academy has been suspendedBut music lovers may be disappointed this year. The 75-year-old academy, considered the Mecca of classical music, is mired in controversy and its functioning has been suspended by the Madras High Court following charges of misappropriation of funds.In May this year, the Tamil Nadu Government issued a show-cause notice to the Music Academy and sought to appoint a special officer for its administration. This was after the Registrar of Societies found large-scale irregularities in the academy's functioning. Some members of the executive committee have obtained a stay on the move from the high court. Founded in 1929, the Music Academy has been the dream destination for exponents of classical music and dance. Besides hosting music and dance programmes, the academy publishes books on performing arts and runs a music college. The Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award instituted by the academy is considered the Oscar of Indian classical music. But the academy's reputation is now crumbling, with allegations of favouritism and corruption being levelled against its administrators. The lid blew off in June 2001, when two of its members, R. Parthasarathy and his lawyer son P. Venugopal, discovered that the bye-laws of the academy had been amended without approval. An inquiry was ordered by the Registrar of Societies. In his report, Inquiry Officer G. Chandrasekaran submitted that there had been more irregularities. The investigation also found several discrepancies in the contracts signed by the academy for recording live programmes. While the Gramophone Company of India was charged Rs 7.5 lakh for recordings, another firm, Bharat Film Distributors, was allowed to record programmes without a written contract.The Charges The academy bye-laws were changed without requisite approvals.Post of treasurer abolished; nine trustees taken in on executive committee without elections.Some companies were allowed to record music at very cheap rates.Portion of building let out to art gallery without written contract.Budget was exceeded without taking approval. Incidentally, Bharat Film Distributors was owned by M. Saravanan, a trustee of the academy. When some members objected, Bharat Film Distributors paid Rs 4 lakh as full and final settlement for recording programmes over 15 years. One of the most blatant violations has been the doing away of the treasurer's post and accommodation of nine trustees as members of the academy's executive committee, circumventing the election process. While the 23 elected executive committee members - one president, six vice-presidents, four secretaries and 12 others - serve for a period of three years, the nine nominated trustees enjoy a six-year tenure. Says Parthasarathy: "Vested interests amended the bye-laws to suit their needs." Other irregularities include renting out a portion of the academy building to an art gallery without a written agreement, exceeding budget provisions without approvals and demanding money from young musicians to perform at the academy. "It is nothing but corruption," says the report. While Music Academy President T.T. Vasu would not comment on the present imbroglio, Vice-President Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti says, "A lot of financial irregularities have been brought to light. Only a special officer can set things right. The Music Academy badly needs a surgery to remove the tumour, however painful the procedure." Executive committee member V.V. Srivatsa says that the members can thrash out the differences among themselves. "Some people are trying to take over the academy by manipulation through a special officer. What was the president doing all these years when the so-called irregularities took place?" he retorts.The battle, in fact, may have just begun. The current committee showed the extent of its clout when Commercial Taxes Secretary Sakthikanth Das was shifted from the post within 48 hours of his issuing the show-cause notice. The roots of corruption, it seems, are deeper than imagined.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Sep 1, 2003 00:00 IST--- ENDS ---

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Madras High Court suspends Maargazhi Festival in Chennai following corruption charges

The 75-year-old Mecca of Carnatic music is mired in corruption charges and financial irregularities.

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