High Court directs shifting of KAT in three months

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the State government to shift the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal to Kandaya Bhavan on KG Road within three months.

N P Amruthesh, a City-based advocate had approached the Court claiming that the present location of the Tribunal - Indiranagar - was inconveniencing advocates since travelling to the location was time-consuming.

He had claimed that despite repeated requests, the State government was delaying in shifting the building to the new location.

The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the government to complete the work on the building within two months and shift the Tribunal to the new location within a month later.

The counsel representing KAT submitted that it would require more time since only 70 per cent of the work was completed.

Survey ordered

The High Court has directed the tahsildar, Bangalore South, to survey the extent of land encroached on around Sarakki Lake and submit a report by next hearing.

Hearing a petition by the People’s Campaign for Rights to Water (PCRW) seeking clearance of encroachment around the Lake, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the authorities to fix the boundary of the lake.

According to the petitioners, a large chunk of the lake — spread over 87 acres — has been encroached upon by the land sharks. Despite repeated requests, the revenue officials have not fixed the lake boundary, they claimed. They sought the court’s directions to clear encroachments around the lake. Petitioners had alleged that reckless dumping of debris into the lake was choking the waterbody.

Bail granted

The High Court has granted bail to four persons  in connection with the attack on a homestay at Padeel in Mangalore. Justice Anand Byra Reddy granted conditional bail to Taranath Kumar, Rajesh, Shreyas and another. They were directed to furnish a bond for Rs 20,000 along with a surety.

Order quashed

The High Court has quashed the order of ombudsman of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) which had directed recovery of Rs 12 lakh from secretary of Guttepalya Gram Panchayat in Chikkaballapur taluk.

“As per the MNREGS Act and the clarification issued by the Government of India dated January 14, 2010, ombudsman is not a judicial body to make an order, but can direct the State government to initiate disciplinary action against any officers, if found guilty. If the ombudsman refers a case to the government, the State government must take it seriously and investigate into it. The ombudsman here levied the penalty and ordered for recovery of the money released, which is contrary to the law. The impugned order is set aside,” Justice Nagmohan Das observed.

The Court, however, directed the State government to treat the order of the ombudsman as a recommendation and initiate appropriate action.