The Hindu : Karnataka News : Probe charges against Metro, Centre told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Probe charges against Metro, Centre told

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 22. The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Union Government to inquire into the allegations that Metro Cash and Carry was violating norms and engaging in retail business and file a report before the court.

This direction followed a petition by several traders and traders' associations alleging that Metro was indulging in retail business.

They submitted that Metro was obtaining licence to sell liquor in retail.

The petitioners said Metro was carrying out business in violation of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board norms. They urged the court to direct the Government to investigate the charges.

Justice K.L. Manjunath adjourned further hearing on the petition.

Flyover project

A Division Bench comprising Justice S.R. Nayak and Justice Ajit Gunjal on Tuesday adjourned hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the decision of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to go ahead with the flyover project at Ananda Rao Circle on Seshadri Road.

The petitioner, B.G. Sridhar, proprietor of Ratna Traffic Group, said the soil where the flyover was being planned was weak and it could not sustain the structure.

He said the flyover would collapse after some time. Besides, the flyover was not in public interest.

He said Seshadri Road was already "one-way" and there was no need for a flyover. Traffic on the road was smooth, and the flyover would be a waste of public money. Besides, more than 150 trees had been cut for the project.

The Bench directed the petitioner to make his representations to the project engineers and adjourned further hearing on the case for a month.

Rural weightage

A Division Bench comprising Justice S.R. Nayak and Justice Ajit Gunjal on Tuesday directed the State Government to place before it a report on the rural weightage scheme under which several persons from rural areas had been given government jobs.

The petitioners, K.G. Vimla and three others, all first division clerks (FDC), challenged the December 10, 2004 order of the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) upholding the Government decision to dismiss from service candidates selected under rural the weightage category.

The petitioners said they were selected by the State Government and appointed as FDCs.

After the Supreme Court struck down the rural weightage category, the Karnataka State Public Service Commission (KPSC) on October 8, 2004 served termination orders on them.

The petitioners said the KPSC had no right to terminate their services as they had been appointed by the Government. They urged the court to set aside the KAT order.

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