High Court judge 'loses' pet dog, lets out anger on police before cooling down
New Delhi (PTI): A former Delhi High Court judge got furious and demanded the suspension of the security staff posted at his official residence after he "lost" his pet dog who ventured out of the open gates due to the "callousness" of the sentries.
Justice Gaurang Kanth, however, recanted on his demand later and said he wanted no action against the security personnel.
He had written a letter to a top city police official seeking suspension of security personnel posted at his residence for their alleged lapse of not locking the gates of his bungalow leading to the loss his pet dog, Delhi police officials said on Saturday.
It was not known whether the dog got lost in the city's traffic mayhem or was crushed under a vehicle.
Justice Kanth was recently transferred to the Calcutta High Court.
"I am writing this letter with a lot of pain and anguish. Due to lack of devotion and incompetence on the part of the officers providing security at my official bungalow, I have lost my pet dog.
"In spite of repeatedly telling them to keep the door locked, the security officials deputed at my residence have failed to comply with my directions and carrying out their professional duty. Such dereliction of duty and incompetence needs immediate attention as the same can cause grave danger to my life and liberty," he said in the letter to Delhi police.
"Such callousness in carrying out their duties by the said security personnel may cause any untoward incident at my residence and I fear for my security. Not manning the gate and lack of devotion in keeping a check on the movement and ingress and egress from the gate of my residence is intolerable," he said.
Kanth's letter, which he wrote on June 12 to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Security), has gone viral on social media.
He requested Delhi police to immediately suspend the officers, as their conduct was unbecoming of government servants, and carry out a thorough investigation.
A senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, said Kanth wrote the letter to them last month. Kanth, however, later informed them that he does not want any action against the posse of policemen posted at his residence.
The incident came to light days after Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud wrote letters to the chief justice of high courts where he said protocol facilities available for judges should not be used in a manner that is "liable to result in inconvenience to others or to bring public criticism of the judiciary."
Justice Chandrachud had taken serious exception to the Allahabad High Court registry demanding an explanation from the railways over the 'inconvenience' caused to a judge who did not get pantry facilities on a train running late.
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Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
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“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
