Justice Vaidyanathan to head probe panel on court violence

The State government on Thursday decided to appoint retired judge R G Vaidyanathan as the chief of the one-man Inquiry Commission to conduct a probe into the recent incidents of violence in and around the city civil court complex in Bangalore.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda took the decision after holding a meeting with Home Minister R Ashoka and Law Minister S Suresh Kumar. The government is likely to issue the terms of reference for the probe on Friday.

Justice Vaidyanathan, who will be heading a third commission, started off as a district judge in the State and was later appointed the principle city civil judge, Bangalore. He served as the registrar general of the High Court of Karnataka before being elevated as a judge. He was subsequently transferred to Bombay High Court where he retired. Justice Vaidyanathan had earlier headed the commission of inquiry into the abduction and death of former minister H Nagappa.

The government has also issued an order appointing Roopak Kumar Dutta, DGP (CID), as the inquiry officer to look into the allegation of excess use of force by the police during the lathicharge on advocates near the city civil court complex on March 2. The officer commenced his work on Thursday.

The officer will also probe the allegations over the use of obscene language in the wireless by the police and setting fire to vehicles parked in the court premises. Dutta is expected to submit the fact finding report to the government within four weeks.

The government has also decided to give compensation to advocates whose properties had been damaged during the violence.Those wanting to claim compensation can file their complaints before the Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban district.

Suresh said the government had released money to the Bangalore Urban DC office where compensation for vehicle damage and medical expenses of the victims of the March 2 violence would be distributed.