The High Court on Wednesday ordered notices to prominent politicians, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, on a criminal petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Council of India Trust. The petition also names former union minister M Veerappa Moily, senior Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge, Industries Minister RV Deshpande, MLC VS Ugrappa, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H K Patil, Law Minister TB Jayachandra and MLA Suresh Kumar, who are all advocates. The petitioner contends that the leaders, by receiving their sanadh (certificate of practice) from the State Bar Council, have violated rules.
The provisions of the Advocate's Act, 1961 and Section 14 of the Karnataka Ministers Salaries and Allowances Act, 1956 says ministers must not practise any profession.
The ministers and leaders are engaging themselves in a full-time salaried employment of the government, enjoying all remunerations without surrendering their sanadh, which is mandatory. The petitioners contended that the leaders can be prosecuted under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The petitioner has sought direction to set aside the session's court order and punish the ministers and leaders for various offences committed by them.
Justice H Bilappa ordered notices seeking directions to set aside the order of the sessions court, which had dismissed the petitioner’s plea.
DH News Service