Karnataka HC judge dies of cardiac arrest

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Dec 12 (PTI) Justice V G Sabhahit, senior
judge of Karnataka High Court died here today following a
cardiac arrest, police said.
    The judge, after completing the day's proceedings of the
court, complained of severe chest pain at about 1630 hrs in
his chamber and was rushed to a private heartcare hospital
where the doctors declared him brought dead, they said.
    Justice Sabhahit, born on November 26, 1955, practiced in
the High Court and was appointed as district judge on April
18, 1988.
    He was appointed as additional judge of the High Court in
2000 and was made a permanent Judge the next year.

Hegde against junior officer probing illegal mining complaint

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Dec 12: Former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde
today criticised appointment of a lower-grade Lokayukta
officer to investigate alleged involvement of former chief
ministers S M Krishna, H D Kumaraswamy and Dharam Singh in
illegal mining activities in Karnataka during their tenure.
       "It is unfortunate that a report prepared by a former
Supreme Court judge (Hegde himself) on illegal mining in the
state is being investigated by Lokayukta Deputy Superintendent
of Police among others ... This is not correct," he told
reporters on the sidelines of his felicitation function here.
       The investigation has been entrusted to a team led by S M
Jagadeesh Prasad (Tumkur Lokayukta SP). Other officers are
Chitradurga Lokayukta DySP M R Sannathimmappa and Davangere
Inspector T G Sridhar Shastry.
       On December 8 an FIR was registered against External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna and two other former chief
ministers by Lokayukta Police on a private complaint alleging
that they facilitated illegal mining during their tenure.
       Hegde alleged that the state government does not have the
will to act on his report, which he said would ultimately go
to the Supreme Court, which would decide its probity.
       He referred to action taken by Andhra Pradesh and Goa
against illegal mining in their states, based on his report.
"Sadly the Karnataka government is silent over it. I think
they do not have belief in me or the Lokayukta," he quipped.
       "The government should take action on my report as I have
laboured hard to give shape to it," Hegde said.
       He, however, said it was not mandatory for the government
to accept his report, which had raised a storm after it
indicted former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.
       Hegde said expressing views publicly on issues discussed
in Parliament does not amount to insulting it. "It is the
people's right to speak on any issue debated in Parliament.The
Constitution has given this right under Art 19 (1A). How can
anyone say it is wrong," he asked.
       Hegde expressed happiness over Opposition parties
supporting social activist Anna Hazare's quest to bring a
strong Lokpal Bill in Parliament. "It is a good development,"
he added.

Will not appoint tainted judge as Lokayukta: Bhardwaj

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Dec 12: In the continuing war of words
between him and ruling BJP in Karnataka, Governor H R Bhardwaj
today said he would not ratify appointment of any tainted
judge as Karnataka Lokayukta.
   "Let me make it very clear. I will not appoint any judge
as Lokayukta if he is accused in any case," he told reporters
on the sidelines of a function here.
   Bhardwaj said he had no malice against any judge as he
knew all of them, but "some illegalities" have been found
against Justice S R Bannurmath. "How can I appoint a judge
accused of illegalities? I cannot betray people of the state,"
he said.
   The Governor had rejected Justice Bannurmath's appointment
as Lokayukta after reports came to light of irregularities
committed in allotment of a site in his name
   Bhardwaj said he was in consultation with the government
to appoint an honest and sincere judge as the Lokayukta.
   Last week former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had
charged Bhardwaj with trying to destabilise the government by
recommending former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde to again head
the anti-corruption body.

Yeddyurappa requests party leaders not to field candidates

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Hassan (Kar), Dec 11: Seeking to ensure unanimous
election of Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda in the December 22
Legislative Council bye-election, his predecessor B S
Yeddyurappa today said he had requested leaders of JD-S and
Congress not to field their candidates in the poll.
   "I have called up JD-S supremo Deve Gowda, state PCC chief
G Parameshwar and opposition leader in the Assembly
Siddaramaiah, requesting them not to field their candidates
and elect Sadananda Gowda unanimously to the Upper House," he
told reporters after visiting the Kodi Mutt here.
   He, however, refused to divulge what the reactions of
these leaders were to his request.
   Siddaramaiah reportedly told Yeddyurappa the Congress High
Command would take decision on the matter and he would abide
by it.
   Yeddyurappa's request came amidst speculation that BJP
rebel leader B Sreeramulu, who has claimed he has 22
legislators with him, would join hands with Congress and JD-S
to defeat his close aide.
   Sadananda Gowda, sworn in Chief Minister in August, is a
Lok Sabha member and has to get elected to the state
legislature within six months to fulfil a Constitutional
requirement.

Sreeramulu, JD-S for defeat of CM in by-polls: Siddaramaiah

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Dec 11: Leader of the Opposition in
Karnataka Assembly and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah
today said JD-S and BJP rebel leaders and Bellary strongman B
Sreeramulu have assured support to the party to defeat Chief
Minister D V Sadnanada Gowda in the December 22 Legislative
Council bye-election.
   "We will do everything possible to defeat Sadananda Gowda
in the election to the Legislative Council... JD-S and
Sreeramulu have assured support to Congress in this regard,"
he told reporters here.
   His statement comes in the wake of internal dissensions in
the ruling BJP with Sreeramulu claiming to enjoy support of 22
BJP legislators, which is enough to bring down the government.
   Siddaramaiah said the government would fall if Gowda loses
the election. "In this possible scenario, Karnataka will
either be under President's rule or go for fresh elections,"
he said.
   He rejected former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's
request to Congress not to field a candidate for the polls,
saying, "We will not change our plans to field our candidate.
We will definitely field a candidate and make serious efforts
to defeat Sadananda Gowda."
   On the party's stand on fight against illegal mining if
Sreeramulu supports Congress to defeat Gowda, he said there is
no question of protecting him. "We will continue our fight
against illegal mining despite Sreeramulu's support,"
Siddaramiah said.
   To another query, he said there was no question of
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's resigning following
the filing of an FIR against him in the Lokayukta court for
his alleged role in dereserving forest land for illegal
mining.
   "The demand for Krishna's resignation is politically
motivated. Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has denied
his (Krishna's) role in illegal mining.... Demanding Krishna's
resignation is incorrect," Siddaramaiah said.
   He said BJP's recommendation of appointing Justice
Bannurmath for Lokayukta post has raised suspicion over its
intentions.
   The BJP government and Governor H R Bhardwaj are at
loggerheads over appointment of Justice Bannurmath as
Lokayukta as he is facing allegations of securing allotment of
a residential site in judicial layout on a land earmarked for
civic amenities.

Anna Hazare, team to take out rally in city on Dec 17

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Dec 11: Social activist Anna Hazare and
members of his core team will participate in a rally here on
December 17, as part of their demand to "save the Lokayukta
institution in Karnataka."
       Team members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kiran
Bedi would participate in the rally, which would be part of
many held across Karnataka, said Prithvi Reddy coordinator
of India Against Corruption.
       Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde and noted Gandhian
H S Doreswamy would lead the rally, Reddy added.
    Public rallies for strengthening Lokayukta would also be
held in Mysore, Gulbarga, Dharwad, Tumukur, Chikballapur and
other important cities of the state, Reddy said.
    The rally will be held days ahead of Hazare's threat to
go on an indefinite fast from December 27 at Ramlila Maidan if
a strong Lokpal bill is not passed in the ongoing Winter
Session of Parliament. 
     Extending support to Anna Hazare's fight to bring in a
strong Lokpal Bill, Senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar told
reporters in Bangalore that the Prime Minister and the entire
bureaucracy should come under the purview of the ombudsman.
   "My party wants the Prime Minister and government
officers to come under the purview of Lokpal," he added.
   The citizens charter and Lokayukta in every state should
also come under the purview of Lokpal, Ananth Kumar said.
   Attacking Congress-led UPA government,the BJP leader
said his party was committed to waging a fight for a strong
Lokpal Bill, both inside and outside Parliament.
   Ananth Kumar also flayed Congress for not participating in
the public debate organised by Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar.
  "Whether the Congress is for corruption or against it?
Whether it is for a strong Lokpal or not? Why it is dithering
and shying away from such democratic process," he asked.
   Ananth Kumar also questioned Sonia Gandhi's silence on
price rise, black money, FDI in retail and corruption.
   "Sonia Gandhi is not just Congress President, but also
Chairperson of UPA and National Advisory Council which guides
the principles of administration. She should speak up. Her
silence on these vital issues lead to suspicion," he said.
   Expressing confidence, Ananth Kumar said Karnataka Chief
Minister D V Sadananda Gowda would win the December 22
election to the Legislative Council.

Anna fighting against Congress: Moily

B D Narayankar



Press Trust of India

Mangalore, Dec 11: Union Minister M Veerappa Moily
today questioned Anna Hazare's intentions behind his one-day
sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, saying it had proved that
his fight was more against Congress than for a strong Lokpal.
   "What is Anna's intention behind going on a one-day fast
at Jantar Mantar? He should explain to the nation. It is clear
he is fighting against Congress party," he told reporters
here.
   The Union Corporate Affairs Minister's remarks came soon
after several political parties, including BJP, the Left and
BJD shared the dais with Hazare and backed Team Anna's key
proposals for a strong Lokpal.
   Moily said his party was committed to pass the Lokpal Bill
and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was making all efforts to
expedite the process.
  "In spite of this, it is difficult to understand why Anna
Hazare went on a one-day fast at Jantar Mantar," he said.
    On the appointment of Lokayukta, Moily said the BJP-ruled
government in Karnataka was 'aping' the Gujarat's Narendra
Modi government which is not serious about filling the vacant
Lokayukta post.
   "The Gujarat government did not appoint Lokayukta for
seven years.... the same path is being followed by the state
government," he said.
   Moily also said the political system in Karnataka would
collapse completely if horse trading continued in state
politics.