Lokayukta raids four Karnataka govt officials, finds disproportionate assets worth over Rs 26.66 cr
Bengaluru, Nov 21: Karnataka Lokayukta Police on Thursday conducted search operations across the state in connection with complaints regarding disproportionate asset cases registered against four government officers, and it was found that they had acquired disproportionate assets worth over Rs 26.66 crore.
Simultaneously, searches were conducted at the residences, offices and houses of the relatives of the accused government officers at more than 22 places.
The search pertains to cases registered at Lokayukta Police Stations of Bengaluru, Mandya, and Chikkaballapura, an official release said.
The officials are Krishnaveni M C, a Senior Geologist, Mines and Geology Department; Mahesh, Managing Director of Kaveri Neeravari Nigama's Surface Water Data Center; N K Thippeswamy, Director of Town and Country Planning; and Mohan K, Excise Superintendent at the office of the Joint Commissioner of Excise.
Lokayukta officials have documents, assets and valuables, including gold ornaments and cash.
According to Lokayukta, while Krishnaveni M C has acquired disproportionate assets to the tune of over Rs 11.93 crore, Mahesh has acquired over Rs 6.89 crore.
Mohan had acquired disproportionate assets worth over Rs 4.37 crore and it was Rs 3.46 crore in the case of Thippeswamy, they said.
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SC upholds inclusion of ‘secular, socialist’ in Preamble of Constitution
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the inclusion of the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, confirming their retrospective application from November 26, 1949. The court ruled that the power to amend the Constitution under Article 368 extends to the Preamble, which is an integral part of the document.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna stated, “The power under Article 368 cannot be curtailed. It will equally apply to the Preamble.” The 42nd Constitutional Amendment, which introduced these terms in 1976 during the Emergency, was challenged on grounds of its retrospective application and the lack of states’ ratification.
The petitioners, including BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, argued that the amendment forced a particular economic theory on the nation and violated the original intent of the Constitution. Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay contended that the Preamble reflects the will of the people at the time of adoption in 1949 and is therefore unalterable.
The court dismissed these objections, affirming that both socialism and secularism are part of the Constitution's Basic Structure. The Bench clarified that socialism refers to a welfare state ensuring equality of opportunity without negating private sector participation or individualism. It emphasised that secularism is embedded in the Constitution, particularly in the principles of equality and fraternity.
Chief Justice Khanna remarked, “Secularism has always been a core feature of the Constitution.” He added that the amendment did not impose socialism as dogma but aligned with the welfare goals enshrined in various constitutional provisions.
