Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Minister pulls up Hubli Mayor for creating row

Special Correspondent

Resolution on the location of the Bench leads to a controversy

DHARWAD: S.R. Morey, Minister for Municipal Administration and in charge of the district, is believed to have pulled up the Mayor, Hanumanthappa Betageri, for creating a controversy over the location of a Bench of the Karnataka High Court.

By doing so, Mr. Morey has sought to distance himself from the controversy.

The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation passed a resolution on Friday seeking a change in the location of the Bench and this led to a controversy. Mr. Morey's action assumes importance as Mr. Hanumanthappa Betageri is his protégé and the latter's decision to allow the resolution opposing the Government's stand has led to the impression that it has been done at the Minister's instance.

According to sources, Mr. Morey told Mr. Betageri that there is no need to create any confusion on the matter.

The Government will look into the matter and there is no need for the corporation or the Mayor to act on it.

Mr. Betageri had alleged that he was "tricked" by some councillors to pass a resolution on the matter and he was unaware of the stand of the Government. He sought to backtrack on the resolution within hours of its passage when lawyers from Dharwad confronted him.

It remains to be seen if the general body meeting of the corporation will permit him to have the way when the resolution comes up for consideration before sending it to the State Government by the Commissioner of the corporation.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Political parties support Dharwad Bar's stand
Good inflow into Malaprabha brings little relief to people
Kalasa project: Union Ministry likely to clear hurdles
Minister pulls up Hubli Mayor for creating row
Water supply schedule
Naikar's statue to be installed in Dharwad
In Hubli Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu