The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued a notice to state while hearing a PIL challenging the appointment of 32 retired persons to special court for land grabbing cases.

The court was hearing a petition filed by M N Venugopal and others who had sought directions to remove the re-employed persons in all government departments and provide jobs to the unemployed.

The state government had issued a circular on February 29, 2016, directing not to re-employ retired persons in all its institutions and boards. The petitioners had contended that in the wake of rising unemployment, the re-employment of retired persons deprive jobs to eligible youth.

Liberty to DKS

The high court has granted liberty to Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar to seek an extension of time for his appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The court was hearing a petition filed by Shivakumar who has moved the court seeking directions to quash the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate in an illegal money transfer case.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal who appeared on behalf of Shivakumar submitted that neither an FIR nor a formal complaint has been registered against the minister.

Furthermore, the Income Tax department filed a complaint for offences punishable under section 276 (1) and 277 of the IT Act, both of which are non scheduled offences. Thus, in the absence of a scheduled offence Shivakumar cannot be prosecuted, he contended. The counsel for ED submitted that it has not issued any summons or notice calling on Shivakumar to appear before it. The court adjourned the hearing to March 11