Mandya additional DC plans to quit job, take up monkhood

MANDYA: A Karnataka Administrative Services (KAS) officer, presently posted in Mandya, has decided to quit civil services and take up monkhood. His decision has come as a surprise to many.

H L Nagaraj, the additional deputy commissioner in Mandya, plans to take voluntary retirement in a few days, take deeksha at the Vishwa Vokkaligara Maha Sansthana Math and become a disciple of Chandrashekara Swami, sources close to the officer said.

Nagaraj had earlier taken up monkhood in 2011 when he was posted as tahsildar at KR Pet. He had quit his job and had taken deeksha from Balagangadharanatha Swami at Adichunchanagiri Math. He had even taken on the name of Nischalanandanatha Swami. However, following public protest seeking his return to the post of tahsildar, and pressure from his wellwishers, he rejoined duties.