The Hindu : Karnataka News : Lokayukta show-cause notice to Hiriyur MLA

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Thursday, Jul 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Lokayukta show-cause notice to Hiriyur MLA

Staff Correspondent

Lokayukta receives 117 complaints at public grievances meeting
Absence of some officials in the meeting disapproved of

IMMEDIATE ACTION: Lokayukta Santosh Hegde and Upa Lokayukta Patri Basavana Goud at the public grievances meeting in Chitradurga.

Chitradurga: Lokayukta Santosh Hegde has issued a show-cause notice to Hiriyur MLA D. Manjunath for allegedly denying to appoint T. Lokamate as anganwadi worker, though she had fulfilled all criteria.

He was replying to a complaint by Ms. Lokamate that she had produced all the documents before the Anganwadi Workers Selection Committee headed by the MLA, yet she was denied the job. He also directed the committee not to appoint a new worker till a clarification is given.

Chairing a public grievances meeting at Rangamandir here on Monday, Mr. Hegde and Upa Lokayukta Patri Basavana Goud received 117 complaints.

The Lokayukta heard various complaints ranging from not giving details under the Right to Information Act to not transferring property deeds, to the reluctant attitude of officials in resolving civic problems.

In a complaint, several depositors of Vonake Vobbavva Mahila Cooperative Bank and Sampige Siddeswar Cooperative Bank, which have now been closed down owing to bankruptcy, alleged that the deputy registrar, cooperative credit societies and liquidator of the two banks, T.A. Sunandamma, had not taken action to recover loans and pay them back to depositors.

The Lokayukta directed Ms. Sunandamma to give details within a fortnight and ensure that depositors get their money. Mr. Hegde was irked when Timmappa, a waterman of Matadahatti Gram Panchayat of the taluk, said he has not received salary for the past 11 months as the secretary was asking a bribe of Rs. 500 towards each month’s salary. Visibly upset, the Lokayukta sought a clarification from executive officer Lingaraj.

The officer said that he had given instructions to the secretary to disburse the salary but he did not act. Not satisfied with the reply, Mr. Hegde said, “If your subordinates do not follow your instructions, then it means that you are inefficient.” He directed the officer to ensure that the complainant received his full salary. Mr. Hegde said that such instances of officials asking bribe to disburse salary have come before him in most of the meetings. He said that many senior citizens have complained that postmen sought bribe while delivering old-age pension.

“To address the issue, we have asked the Government to directly deposit the money in the beneficiaries’ account,” he said.

Mr. Hegde expressed disapproval over the absence of some officials in the meeting despite giving them prior intimation about the arrival of the Lokayukta.

Deputy Commissioner A.A. Biswas, zilla panchayat chief executive officer H.P. Prakash and Superintendent of Police B. Shivakumar were present.

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