High Court allows NICE plea on Lokayukta order

Conceding Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise Limited’s (NICE) contention that Lokayukta Court was not the appropriate authority to order any inquiry, as also direct attachment of properties of the firm, the High Court, on Thursday, allowed a petition by NICE challenging the Lokayukta Court order dated October 25, 2012 to conduct an inquiry into various illegalities and irregularities.

Allowing the writ petition, Justice Anand Byra Reddy observed “circumstances are sufficient to grant prayers of the petitioners and subsequently the petition is allowed.” NICE, in its petition before the High Court, had challenged the Lokayukta Court order, stating that the authority had no jurisdiction either to hear or make an order.

Contending that these issues had been earlier raised in several public interest litigations, writ petitions and writ appeals in Supreme Court and the same had been concluded in favour of NICE, the firm’s petition had prayed that the complaint and the order of Lokayukta Court be set aside.

Ruling in the firm’s favour, the High Court, noted that “discovered criminalisation of the petitioners by the respondents cannot be accepted.”

Anticipatory bail

Former Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) Chairman Gonal Bheemappa has moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the KPSC recruitment scam during the year 2011-2012.

In his petition, he has stated that considering the ongoing dispute he fears he might be arrested and sought advance bail as his daughter is getting married on June 30, 2013.

It may be recalled few aspiring candidates had demanded CID inquiry into the matter stating there has been several irregularities during examinations and interview to select gazetted probationers.

The matter is likely to come up for hearing on Friday.