The Hindu : Order on Govt. staff acting in films challenged

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Order on Govt. staff acting in films challenged

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 22. The Government Order of March 8 prohibiting its employees from acting in films or in television serials has been challenged in the Karnataka High Court.

Justice Gururajan, who heard on Monday a petition filed by the IAS officer and cine artiste, C. Shivaramu, ordered issue of notices to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR).

In his petition, Mr. Shivaramu, who is Commissioner of Social Welfare, said he had acted in films after he entered the IAS 11 years ago. Though he was eligible for 15 days of casual leave, 30 days of earned leave, and 10 days of committed leave every year, he had not availed himself of any of them.

However, he had availed himself of leave on some days to act in films. So far, he had acted in six films and the seventh film was under production.

In his prayer, he urged the court to permit him to complete the seventh film as he had already been signed for the role. He also sought quashing of the March 8 order.

Mr. Justice Gururajan ordered issue of notices to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR).

Dismissed

A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, N.K. Jain, and Justice V.R. Sabhahit dismissed a petition seeking early completion of the Rajajinagar entrance grade separator.

In his petition, H.R. Vishwanath said the project was delayed and it was causing a lot of inconvenience. He urged the court to direct the authorities to expedite work on the project.

Notice issued

Mr. Justice Gururajan ordered issue of notice to the Government on a petition filed by the employees' association of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Development Board (KUWSSDB) challenging the reappointment of its Managing Director on contract.

In the petition, the association and the association president, V.N. Halakate, said they had challenged the appointment of Srinivas Reddy as Managing Director of the board in 1995.

On April 12, 2002, the court had upheld the petition and quashed the appointment of Mr. Reddy.

Both the board and Mr. Reddy had appealed against the order. Meanwhile, Mr. Reddy retired on January 31, 2003. The same day, the Government issued a notification reappointing Mr. Reddy as Managing Director on contract from February 1, 2004.

The petitioners said the appointment was illegal and unconstitutional as the case was still pending. Besides, it violated Section 7 of the KUWSSDB Act.

Mr. Justice Gururajan ordered issue of notices to the Department of Urban Development, the KUWSSDB, and Mr. Reddy and posted the case for March 25.

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