PILs on ACB formation: HC adjourns hearing

The High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of two PILs, questioning the formation of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to April 26.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath adjourned the hearing as the Chief Justice will not be available in the court. The bench had earlier passed an order not to transfer the cases under investigation and pending sanction before the police wing of the Lokayukta to the newly formed ACB.

In one of the PILs filed by advocate Chidananda Urs B G, he has sought directions to stay and quash the government notification dated March 14, which formed the ACB.

The petitioner has said that the ACB is not fully operational and at the same time, the powers of the ADGP Lokayukta are withdrawn, which has created a ‘stalemate’ and ‘vacuum’ of investigating agency. The matter has been adjourned to April 26.