BJP, JD(S) complain to Governor against ‘misuse of IAS officers’; Speaker meets him on expulsion
The Hindu
BJP, JD(S) lodge complaint with Governor against alleged misuse of IAS officers for political event. BJP alleges misuse of Constitutional norms, demands explanation from CM Siddaramaiah. Assembly passes resolution suspending 10 MLAs for "indecent and disrespectful conduct". BJP and JD(S) boycott proceedings, protest at Vidhana Soudha. BJP, JD(S) lodge complaint with Governor against misuse of IAS officers for political event. BJP alleges misuse of Constitutional norms, demands explanation from CM. Assembly suspends 10 MLAs for "indecent and disrespectful conduct". BJP, JD(S) boycott proceedings, protest at Vidhana Soudha.
Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party (BJPLP) approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and lodged a complaint against the alleged misuse of around 25 IAS officers as protocol officers for political leaders for the Opposition meet held in the city on July 17 and 18.
Curiously, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy not only met the Governor with the BJP delegation, but was also a signatory to the petition by BJPLP. This comes amidst reports of an alliance between the two parties, and speculations of even a merger.
Prior to the BJP-JD(S) delegation meeting the Governor, JDSLP meet condemned Congress for the fracas in the Assembly on Wednesday and claimed that Mr. Kumaraswamy had not misused the bureaucracy during his swearing-in ceremony, as alleged by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The BJP complaint alleges that the deployment of IAS officers as protocol officers for a political event, in no way connected with the affairs of Karnataka amounted to misuse of Constitutional norms. BJP demanded that the Governor seek an explanation on the matter from Mr. Siddaramaiah.
On Wednesday, the Assembly had passed a resolution suspending 10 MLAs, including four former Ministers R. Ashok, C.N. Ashwathnarayan, V. Sunil Kumar and Araga Jnanendra. They were suspended for their “indecent and disrespectful conduct” after they tore copies of bills and agenda documents and threw them towards the Chair while protesting against deployment of IAS officers.
Meanwhile, Thursday also saw Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, along with Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani and Assembly secretary M.K. Vishalakshi, calling on the Governor. They apprised him of the circumstances that led to the suspension of BJP lawmakers till the end of the session.
The BJP and the JD(S) boycotted the proceedings on Thursday in protest against the suspension. Only G. Janardhana Reddy, member of the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha, and an Independent member Latha Mallikarjun were present in the Opposition benches of the House.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”