The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Court: not inclined to stay action of Lokayukta

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Court: not inclined to stay action of Lokayukta

Staff Reporter

Lokayukta has recommended sacking of two Ministers

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday said it was not inclined to stay the action of the Lokayukta in recommending the dismissal from the Cabinet of Alkod Hanumanthappa and S. Darshanapur for failing to file on time their statement of assets and liabilities.

It, however, conceded the request of the Ministers and gave them time till Friday to withdraw their petitions.

The Ministers approached the court after the Lokayukta recommended to the Chief Minister that both be dropped as they had failed to file before the deadline their statements of assets and liabilities.

The Minsters said the time for the Chief Minister to take action on the recommendation — accept, reject or keep it pending — is expected by August 10.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph, and Justice Rammohan Reddy, which is hearing the case, had on Wednesday asked the Chief Minister not to take any action till today (Thursday).

When the matter came up for further hearing, the Lokayukta said though there was some bona fide mistakes in the statement of objections and additional statement, there was nothing wrong in its action recommending the Ministers’ dismissal. It said the Ministers had been given adequate time and action was recommended as complaints had been lodged against them.

It noted that the Lokayukta recommendation was now before the Chief Minister and that he was expected to take a decision by Friday.

It said if the Ministers so desired, they could urge their case before the Chief Minister before he took any action.

The Bench then clarified to the Principal Government Advocate that the Government was free to proceed with the matter.

It said it could not give any relief to the Ministers nor could it ask the Lokayukta to condone the delay by the Ministers in filing their statement.

Sympathising with the plight of the Ministers, the Bench said it knew the hardship they would face in the event the report being accepted. But since the Lokayukta’s order was legally sound, the High Court could not step in to condone the delay.

It then agreed to grant time till Friday to the advocate for the petitioners to consult his clients and decide on withdrawing the case. It adjourned further hearing on the case to Friday.

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