The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted two weeks time to the State government to report to it the action taken on the recommendations of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which investigated the irregularities in selection to the posts of Gazetted Probationers made in 1998, 1999 and 2004 by KPSC. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice B.V. Nagarathna granted time as government counsel said that the new government had sought legal opinion from Advocate-General Ravivarma Kumar.
However, Mr. Kumar was unable to give opinion as he had represented some of the candidates selected in these batches, counsel submitted while seeking adjournment.
The Bench was hearing the petition filed by Khaleel Ahmed and others, who had not been selected to the posts, questioning the sanctity of the selection made in these three batches as the CID had found irregularities in the selection process, including awarding of marks during interviews.
Streamlining PILs
The Bench on Tuesday requested Advocate-General Ravivarma Kumar to assist it in streamlining the procedure for entertaining public interest litigation (PIL) petitions. The Chief Justice asked Mr. Kumar to assist the court while hearing a PIL petition filed by advocate L. Rajanna seeking a direction for setting up of a Special Investigation Team to probe into some of the corruption cases against Ministers in the BJP government against whom the Lokayukta Police had filed a “B” report.
Pointing out that of late advocates were filling PIL petitions challenging various executive orders than the general public, the Bench wondered how these advocates were affected from certain actions of the government. The Bench said that in many cases the petitioners, other than advocates, argue their PIL petitions without engaging a lawyer though they [petitioners] have insufficient legal knowledge to argue their cases. However, when Mr. Kumar said that the right of an advocate to file a PIL petition has been settled by the Supreme Court, the Bench told him to assist the court.
Stay order
The High Court on Tuesday stayed further proceedings against the former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and his wife, Datty, in a case pending before the Special Lokayuktka Court in Bangalore.
Justice K.N. Keshavanarayana passed the interim order in a petition filed by Mr. Sadananda Gowda challenging the proceedings.
The Special Court had initiated the proceedings against Mr. Sadananda Gowda based on a private complaint.
It was alleged in the complaint that Mr. Sadananda Gowda purchased private property in his wife’s name at Bagalur in Bangalore and a site from Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) under ‘G’ category by misusing his official position.
However, Mr. Sadananda Gowda claimed that the compliant was filed without prior sanction as he was a public servant while also pointing out that a panel had been set up by the High Court to look into the issues related to allotment of ‘G’ category sites.
