Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Thursday announced that the legislature session would be held from July 16.
He told the Legislative Council that a decision in this regard had been taken by the State Cabinet.
Responding to Janata Dal (Secular) floor leader in the Council M.C. Nananaih, who alleged that the government was not bothered though people were gripped by serious drought, the Chief Minister said a detailed discussion on various issues related to drought, including the relief measures which had been taken and proposed to be initiated, would be taken up in the session. “We will reply to the debate on drought in that session,” he said.
Maintaining that the State had taken effective drought-relief measures, he said the two Central teams that had visited Karnataka to study the drought situation had appreciated the relief measures taken by the State government. In fact, they had said that Karnataka had handled the situation in a “wonderful manner,” he claimed.
The Chief Minister said that various drought-relief teams of the State government would soon commence their tours of districts to plan the second-phase of relief works.
Lokayukta
Mr. Gowda on said the Lokayukta would be appointed after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the appeal filed by the State government on consultations required during the process of appointment of the Lokayukta.
The Karnataka High Court quashed the appointment of Upa Lokayukta and former High Court Judge Chandrashekaraiah on the ground that Chief Justice of the High Court was not consulted while appointing the Upa Lokayukta. “The appointment of Lokayukta will be taken up on priority soon after the apex court delivers its verdict on the appeal field by us”, Mr. Gowda told mediapersons.
The post of the Karnataka Lokayutka remained vacant after Shivraj V. Patil tendered resignation in September last.
