The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Two Ministers get a reprieve

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 09, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Two Ministers get a reprieve

Staff Reporter

Lokayukta wants them to be dropped

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday orally directed the State Government not to act on the Lokayukta’s recommendation to the Chief Minister asking him to dismiss from the Cabinet two Ministers — Alkod Hanumanthappa and Sharanabasappa Darshanapur.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Rammohan Reddy, orally asked the Principal Government Advocate, Srinivasa Gowda, to inform the Government not to initiate any action on the basis of the Lokayukta’s recommendation.

The Lokayukta had recommended the Ministers’ removal as they had failed to submit within the stipulated time statement of their assets and liabilities. The Ministers had then challenged the Lokayukta recommendation in the High Court.

When the matter came up, the Ministers said though several other elected representatives and Ministers too had failed to file their statements in time, only they had been targeted. Besides, the Lokayutka had rejected their plea for condoning the delay in filing their statements though it had condoned the delay by some other Ministers.

Appearing for the Ministers, V.Y. Kumar, said the Lokayukta had erred in reopening a closed case. He also pointed out several mistakes and inconsistencies in the statement of objections and additional statement of objections filed by the Lokayukta.

He urged the court to stay the action of the Lokayukta.

Senior counsel Ravivarma Kumar, appearing for the Lokayukta, admitted that there were some mistakes in the statements, but said they were bona fide and unintentional. He said the Lokayukta report to the Chief Minister was only recommendatory in nature and that the Chief Minister had so far not taken any action.

He submitted that the Lokayukta had no suo motu powers and that it could investigate cases only after complaints were filed. In this case, the former Minister, S.K. Kanta, had filed complaints against Mr. Hanumanthappa and Mr. Darsh anapur. Hence, the report against them.

The Bench observed that though it had no sympathy towards the petitioners, the mistakes in the statements would force the court to stay the Lokayukta action or report. It sought to know how and under what grounds the Lokayukta could reopen a complaint which had been closed.

The Bench then decided to adjourn the case until Thursday. When the petitioner’s advocate said he feared action would be taken on the recommendation of the Lokayukta, the Bench orally directed the Government not to take any action till Thursday.

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