HC gives 2 weeks to shift KAT

The High Court, on Monday, granted two weeks to the State government to state its stance on shifting Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) from Indiranagar BDA Complex to M S Building or Vikasa Soudha.

Following a petition by N P Amruthesh, the Court had earlier issued notice to the State government in this regard. 

The PIL sought direction to the State government to immediately shift KAT from Indiranagar BDA Complex, as the building here has been in a bad shape.

The petitioner submitted the KAT started functioning at Indiranagar BDA Complex from 1986-87 and was away from the High Court and other courts. As a result it was difficult for advocates practising in the High Court and lower courts to attend the KAT.

The petitioner further contended during peak hours, the problem worsened due to high traffic density.  An advocate was killed in an accident when he was heading towards the KAT to attend to a case, he said.

Added to this, the petitioner said over the years complaints over maintenance of buildings in the three acre area of Indiranagar Complex have been on the rise.

Garbage strewn all over the Complex and poor condition of the building could not be missed. Repeated pleas from occupants to address the problem have gone unaddressed, he added.

 Hearing the petition, a Division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice K Sreedhar Rao asked the State government to explain the status on the matter in two weeks and adjourned the matter.

KPSC irregularities

The State government has submitted before the High Court that it would take action against all candidates benefitted in alleged irregularities during recruitment of gazetted probationary under the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC). The irregularities pertains to years 1998, 1999 and 2004.

Additional Advocate General Sajjan Poovaiah who appeared before the Division Bench headed by acting Chief Justice K Sreedhar Rao submitted the State would initiate action against all candidates who benefited from the alleged irregularities.

The government which has obtained the list of all such candidates will submit it on Tuesday. The case has been adjourned to Tuesday.