High Court quashes proceedings against official in DA case

The High Court on Monday quashed the Lokayukta proceedings against C Mruthyunjaya Swamy, Chief Engineer, National Highways in a disproportionate assets case.

Justice Anand Byrareddy also quashed the proceedings against Dr H M Hema, Sowbhagyamma, H M Prabhu, all relatives of Swamy and H Srinivas, a junior engineer, Town Panchayat, Jagalur in Davangere district.

The judge quashed the proceedings on the ground that when the Lokayukta police raided Swamy's house in 2011, the search warrant did not contain their names. The petitioners’ counsel had stated that the preliminary investigation report submitted by the Lokayukta inspector that the petitioners owned disproportionate assets, was filed without registering an FIR. Thus, the report vitiates the investigation. 

Ration cards
The High Court has ordered notice to the state government and the Department of Food and Civil Supplies in a petition filed by Gowramma, Ramappa K and G N Ranganath of Shivamogga questioning the order to link Aadhaar number to ration cards.

The petitioners have contended that the assistant director, Food and Civil Supplies, Shivamogga had passed an order making it compulsory for ration card holders to link their card with Aadhaar number, failing which they will not be supplied rations. The petitioners have said that though Secretary of the department never sought for Aadhaar number, the assistant director was denying them of their supplies.
   
RTE admissions
The High Court has ordered notice to the Department of Primary and Secondary Education in a petition filed by Indraprastha Charity Foundation, an educational institution, challenging the communication asking it to admit students from other wards under the Right to Education (RTE) quota.

The petitioner has challenged that communication of the Block Education Officer (BEO), Puttur taluk, Dakshina Kannada district, asking it to admit students from other wards for the vacant seats under the RTE quota.

The petitioner has stated that the Commissioner of Public Instructions had issued a notification asking schools to admit only those students who reside within the distance of one kilometre of the school and also provided the area and limit of the neighbourhood.

But, the BEO has sent a list of students to the school, who are not eligible for admission and reside in different wards. Justice Raghavendra S Chauhan ordered notice and adjourned the hearing.