BIO-DATA OF SRI D.H. SHANKARAMURTHY
HON'BLE CHAIRMAN , KARNATAKA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Sri. D.H. Shankaramurthy was born on 30.04.1940 at Shimoga (Karntaka-South India) in a highly respectable family, his parents being Sri. Hanumanthappa and Smt. Kamakshamma. He is a Science Graduate from Bangalore University.
He associated himself in the activities of the R.S.S. (Rashtriya Swayam Sevak) a non-political revolutionary Organization since 1966. He served as District General Secretary and State General Secretary of Jan Sangh. In 1980 he became the State General Secretary of Bharathiya Janatha Party a National Political Party (Now ruling the State of Karnataka).
He actively participated in “Bangla Sathyagraha” and underwent imprisonment in ‘Thihar Jail’. In 1975, during the Emergency period he was detained under “MISA” (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) for 19 months in Prison at Belgaum. He has also undergone imprisonment at various places at Bangalore, Belgaum, Shimoga etc., for the cause of general public.
He was the Chairman of Karnataka Milk Federation in 1984, rendered yeomen service for the promotion of Milk and its Products and created a National Record for all round development of the Organization.
For the first time he was elected from South West Graduate Constituency in 1988 and entered the Upper House respectfully. Again, he was elected three times consecutively during 1994, 2000 and 2006 by bagging 73% votes and triumphed a record being a Legislator continuously for more than 20 years.
He was the Leader of the Opposition continuously for four years; during this period he has discharged his responsibilities in a highly disciplined manner in upholding the prestige of the House. (2002 to 2006).
In February 2006 he occupied the position of a Cabinet Minister and held the prestigious portfolio of Higher Education for tenure of 20 months. From Pre-Independence 1947 to post Independence i.e., 2007 there were only 156 Degree Colleges, in 2007 he was instrumental in approving and starting of 184 Degree Colleges thus bringing a radical change in educational system in the State and streamlined the Institutions to impart good education to the students.
On 9th June 2008, he took the mantle of heading the State Planning Board (an Apex Advisory body of the Government) by becoming the Deputy Chairman of the Board. He is monitoring in creation of a document viz., “Karnataka Vision - 2020” which gives a new shape to the alround development of the State. Under his able guidance, the SPB is being restructured with more powers and responsibilities on par with the National Planning Commission. He is instrumental in Constituting the Karnataka State Bio-fuel Board (first of its kind in the Country) He is the first in the history of State Planning Board to attend the Cabinet Meetings and to avail all facilities like a Cabinet Minister besides enjoying a jumbo strength of staff. He has undertaken two official foreign visits viz, Singapore to study about power projects and European Countries i.e., Italy, Israel, Egypt, Greece and Turkey to study about economic development etc. Unanimously elected as Hon’ble Chairman of Legislative Council as on 05.07.2010.