The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down heavily upon former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for denotifying a piece of land acquired in 1988. Though the court was told that the denotification has been withdrawn, the bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen asked why the land was denotified after it was acquired two decades ago. The court observed that despite the high court and Supreme Court rulings, Mr Yeddyurappa had issued orders to denotify the land. “Can a chief minister act against the court orders?” it asked.
The case relates to denotification of land in Nagarbhavi, which was later withdrawn by the state government. Earlier, a high court bench had ruled that the chief minister did not have the authority to denotify lands against the court order. The Chief Justice, hearing another case, observed that the court and governments need not have to be strange bedfellows but can work together. “If there has been a mistake in ordering denotification, the state should admit and withdraw it rather than waiting for the court orders,” it observed.
Temples of learning now teaching shops
“Schools and colleges that were once known as temples of learning have now turned into teaching shops. Educational institutions have become money spinning businesses,” said Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen on Tuesday, while hearing a case related to permission for running a PU College.
HC warns of suspending officers
The High Court on Tuesday warned the DIG (CID) and Director Forensic Science Laboratory that they would be suspended if they failed to submit a report on the investigation into irregularities in appointment of class one officers by the Karnataka Public Service Commission in 1998, 1999 and 2004. Hearing an application by the CID seeking an extension to complete the probe, the division bench of Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna directed the officials to appear before the court during the next hearing.
The CID told the court that the matter has been referred to the forensic sciences department and the report is awaited. Justice Sen refused to grant time and questioned why the CID has not been able to get the report from the forensic sciences department. “You say that the investigation is complete. What is the hurdle in submitting the final report?” he questioned. The division bench granted two weeks and warned the officials that they would be suspended if the report is not presented by then.