Mysuru: City based Folk scholar Dr. P.K. Rajashekar, who was chosen for the Rajyotsava award for the second time, declined to accept the award on Tuesday as he had already got it in 2005.

Pointing out that he was surprised to learn that his name figured in the list announced by the Government on Monday evening, Dr. Rajashekar said he was perplexed why he was chosen for the award for the second time. He also said that the Government had not intimated him about the award.

He categorically stated that he will not accept the award again and he has informed the Department of Kannada and Culture Director N.R. Vishu Kumar and Minister Umashree about his decision. Meanwhile, sources in the Department said they were not sure how he was selected.

“They came to know that he was awarded in 2005 only after the list of awardees was announced on Monday evening. But it has been resolved as he said he would not accept it”, the sources added.

It may be mentioned here that the Kannada and Culture Department, in a goof-up, had put city based folk scholar Dr. P.K. Rajashekar in a spot, by announcing his name in the Rajyotsava awardees list on Monday evening. Dr. Rajashekar had received the award in 2005 in the folklore category, when he was a Kannada Professor at Maharaja’s College in the City.