HC bins plea on removal of panel heads

The Karnataka High Court on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions filed by the chairpersons of Nigam and development corporations challenging their removal by the government.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by M R Venkatesh and others.

The petitioners had stated that their appointment as chairmen of Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe and Safai Karmachari Commission was cancelled by the state through an order dated May 28, 2015.

The petitioners were appointed to the said posts through a notification dated November 2, 2016.

The petitioners contended that the additional chief secretary of Backward Classes welfare department had been appointed as chairman of the Nigam.

The state had contended that chairpersons were appointed at the pleasure of the government and the court accepted the contention.

The court observed in its order that the nomination was made by the appropriate government by virtue of the Karnataka State Commission for SC and ST Act and the Safai Karmachari Act, 2013. The court also stated that the said power exercised by the government cannot be held or construed as one without jurisdiction.