JOIN USMudigere tahsildar reinstated ahead of KAT hearing
In a surprising development, a tahsildar who was shunted out in February for taking on top politicians in the district over encroachment of government land, has been reinstated.
This sudden decision of the government assumes significance as the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) had listed the case for hearing in two days.
D Nagesh, who was earlier serving as tahsildar at Mudigere, had been transferred to his Home department, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR).
Following a High Court order, the notice had been served on December 12, 2016 on the family members of sitting Congress MLC and former minister Motamma to vacate 20 acres of land (Survey No 156) at Kundur in Mudigere taluk.
Motamma had acquired 15 acres of land and her sons Gowtham and Preetham had acquired five acres, totalling 20 acres.
It did not go down well with Motamma who, along with Congress Mudigere taluk unit president U H Hemashekar, exerted pressure on Home Minister and District In-charge Minister G Parameshwara as well as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the tahsildar’s transfer.
Accordingly, Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara recommended Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa to transfer the officer.
Soon after the transfer, Nagesh moved the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT), which was expected to hear the case in two days. Much before the case could come up for hearing, however, the government did a U-turn and reinstated the officer, apparently to avoid embarrassment.
When contacted, Motamma justified her stand and said that the tahsildar was working against the interest of the people and hence was recommended for his transfer. However, the problem will recur with his reinstatement, she insisted.
Nagesh said that he had served notices on 200 such encroachers including Motamma and her family members.