The Hindu : Nagappa death: Govt. to order judicial probe

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Nagappa death: Govt. to order judicial probe

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE DEC. 16. The Karnataka Government today decided to order a judicial probe into the death of the JD (U) leader and former Minister, H. Nagappa, who was held captive by the forest brigand, Veerappan, for over three months.

The Minister for Health and Information, Kagodu Thimmappa, who briefed the press about the Cabinet meeting, said the High Court would decide on whether the probe would be headed by a sitting or a retired High Court judge.

The Government did not see any reason for ordering a CBI probe into the matter.

The Government decided to order the judicial probe to get the truth and facts behind Nagappa's death.

It would take action based on the findings of the inquiry report, he said.

The terms and references of the inquiry would be drafted soon.

The Government's decision to order the probe would not bar the Opposition from raising the Nagappa issue on the floor of the Legislature, the Minister said.

A special session of the Legislature would be held from December 23 to 31, to discuss the issue concerning the abduction and killing of Nagappa.

The Opposition parties and the family members of the slain JD (U) leader had been demanding the Government order a CBI probe.

Cabinet decisions

The Cabinet took several other decisions. The meeting approved amendment to the allocation of business rules to rename the Karnataka State Bureau of Public Enterprises as Department of Disinvestment and Public Sector Enterprises Reform and transfer of Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (KRIDE) from Industry Department to Infrastructure Development.

The amendment also envisages transfer, import, export, and storage of hazardous micro- organism cell from the Science and Technology Department to Forests, Environment, and Ecology Department.

Guarantee for loan

To undertake road development works, the Government agreed to provide a guarantee for the Rs. 180 crore-loan being raised by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation from HUDCO. The Government had released Rs. 14.91 crores for a drinking water project in Shiggaon and Savanur taluks, Mr. Thimmappa said.

The Government decided to extend all benefits to 835 retired employees of the Command Area Development Authority (CADA) and this would cost Rs. one crore to the State exchequer annually.

16 nursing colleges

Following a demand for nursing courses, the Government approved 16 new private nursing colleges and allowed three colleges to start M.Sc. in nursing. The proposal of ayurveda and homoeopathy colleges in Gulbarga and Manvi seeking an increase in the intake from 50 to 75 and 30 to 40 respectively, was also approved, Mr. Thimmappa said.

The Government decided to de-reserve 11,620 sq. km. area to facilitate the grant of mining licences out of the 26,464 sq. km. reserved area.

However, the Government had banned mining activities in 14,844 sq. km., the Minister said.

The de-reserved land is in Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Bangalore, Bellary, Hassan, Kolar, Chitradruga, Bijapur, Mysore, and Mandya districts.

The Government decided to grant exemption of Rs. 40.63 crores in stamps and registration duty to the Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. for Rs. 312 crores raised from financial institutions, Mr. Thimmappa added.

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