HC imposes cost of Rs 5 lakh on Karnataka govt for non-compliance of order
Bengaluru, Jan 17: The High Court of Karnataka has imposed a cost of Rs five lakh on the state government for failing to comply with an order of the court for over three years.
The division bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit was hearing a civil contempt of court petition.
The petition alleged that the State failed to follow a three-and-half-year-old HC order directing the government to implement wage parity between government and government-aided educational institutions.
Taking a serious exception to the inaction, the HC imposed the cost on six officers of the Primary and Secondary Education Department and directed that it should be recovered within two weeks.
The court rejected the contention of the government advocate seeking two weeks to implement the court's earlier order.
Wondering if the state government was indulging in ‘comedy,’ the HC asked why it had not acted on the order for three-and-a-half years.
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The HC observed that the government seems to be unaware of what the common people opine about the courts.
The Court said that people do not approach the courts unnecessarily and they come to courts only when they have no option left. In such a situation, an order of the High Court has not been followed by the government, it added.
The original petition was filed by one V A Nagamma who had retired as a second division assistant librarian from the Sir M Vishveshwaraya High School, an aided institution, in Konena Agrahara.
She had sought wages on par with the librarian grade similar to the over 250 second division librarians in government institutions.
A single judge bench had allowed her petition and directed the State to grant her wage parity.
Alleging that the order has not been followed, she filed a civil contempt petition.
The Division Bench which heard her contempt plea had given time to the government to comply.
On Tuesday, when the government sought more time, the HC rejected the submission and imposed the cost.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
