HC vacates stay on probe against Katta Jr

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday vacated the stay on the Lokayukta investigation against City Corporator Katta Jagadish.

The Lokayukta had filed an FIR against Jagadish, son of former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu alleging that he has received compensation from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board for a government land.

He had been booked under Sections 13 (1)(c), 13 (1) (d) and 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 465 (forgery), 420 (cheating) of IPC. Jagadish had approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR against him.

Wakf elections

The High Court has directed the State Government and the Karnataka State Board of Wakfs to conduct elections by September 4.

The Karnataka Wakfs Protection Joint Action Committee had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) contending that elections had not been held even after the completion of the administrator’s tenure.

An administrator was appointed to the Wakf Board for a period of six months, on January 16, 2010.

The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar directed the Board to prepare voters’ list by July 21 and complete the election process by September 4.

Elections soon

The Bench said the Principal Secretary to Minorities Welfare Department would be held personally liable for any further delay in conducting elections. Earlier, the Principal Secretary had appeared before the Court and submitted that the department was ready to hold elections in the next four months