HC likens corrupt officials to Kasab

 The High Court of Karnataka on Friday said there was no difference between terrorists and corrupt officials in the government department.

“Do you (corrupt officers) have any affection for the country? Kasab Sudutane. Neevu janara duddu nungteera (Kasab kills people and you swallow people’s hard earned money),” the Court said during the hearing of a petition alleging inaction by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on violation of building bylaws.

A resident of Yeshwantpur had approached the Court against his immediate neighbour alleging that the latter had constructed his house in violation of sanctioned plan. The assistant executive engineer of the Palike had earlier filed an affidavit before the Court stating that the building will be demolished and the violator will have to bear the cost of demolition.

The Court directed the BBMP to demolish the building, retaining only those portions which were as per the sanction plan and also told to recover the cost of demolition from the owner of the property.

Contempt notice

The High Court has issued contempt notice to Chief Secretary S V Ranganath for not acting on the CID report pertaining to alleged illegalities in recruitment of gazetted probationary officers in 1998, 1999 and 2004 through the Karnataka Public Service Commission.

Petitioners Suresh Kumar H S and Raghu K had contended that the Deputy Inspector General of Police (CID), Bangalore, submitted a report to the Chief Secretary saying that the offences committed by the KPSC authorities attract departmental action apart from criminal prosecution and no action had been initiated by the latter.

The petitioners submitted that the respondents have wilfully disobeyed the orders passed by the High Court on the matter. The Chief Secretary, despite having found that the recruitment made for the 1998 batch was in gross violation of the earlier Court order, granted protection to the appointed candidates. The Division Bench headed by Justice Sridhar Rao ordered contempt notice to the Chief Secretary seeking explanation for inaction.