HC notice to State on flaws in selection of probationers

The High Court on Monday ordered notice to the State government in connection with a petition seeking directions to quash the endorsement filed by it that it cannot act against those responsible for irregularities during the selection of gazetted probationaries in 1998, 1999 and 2004.

The petitioners - Mahesh P, Allabaksh and nine others - the selected candidates (1998, 1999 and 2004) who were deprived of meritorious posts due to misappropriations, have moved the High Court seeking that even the endorsement filed by the government on July 9, 2012 that the High Court has neither quashed the selection nor has ordered any review of the selection be quashed.

Terming the endorsement perpetuation of injustice, the petitioners stated that the government was unwilling to perform its duties by trying to protect vested interests.
Noting that the endorsement was arbitrary and passed without application of mind, the petitioners said it had been filed with an intention to shirk responsibilities and pass the buck. The petitioners alleged that the government had failed to exercise the jurisdiction vested with it and had buried the whole episode by not taking any action sought.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna ordered notice to the government and directed to club the matter with the main petition.

Transportation of fly ash

The High Court on Monday directed the contractors to transport fly ash from Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) only in trains.

Hearing a petition by Siddanagouda and others, all residents of Diggaon village in Chittapur taluk in Raichur district, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the contractors to get prior permission from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in case if they have no other alternative.

The Bench also ruled that the contractors transporting fly ash by road will be held responsible for the pollution caused during transportation.

The petitioners had moved the High Court seeking directions to the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited to transport fly ash only in trains. They had stated that the transportation of fly ash by road is causing air pollution in the villages along the highway.