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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Kumaraswamy accuses Cong govt of 'neglecting' farmers in Karnataka
Mysuru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of "neglecting" the farmers in the state and being involved in corruption.
The JD(S) leader took part in an event where President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 1066th Jayanthi celebrations of Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogi Mahaswamiji at Malavalli in Mandya district, which comes under his Lok Sabha constituency.
"I saw a report that 2,800 farmers have died by suicide after this government came to power (in state). The government seems to be not concerned about the farmers. This government on coming to power said that it will give Rs 24,000 crore as loan to 32 lakh farmers for their farming activities, but till November, about Rs 12,000 crore has been paid to 24 lakh farmers, limiting to what was there earlier by managing the books of account," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "These things show the failures of this government. Also, there is a corrupt system. I will not speak about it now. After December 20, I will speak to you in detail. There are a lot of issues to share with you."
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Responding to a question, the JD(S) leader, who turned 66 today, said there is no use of giving any documents. "I'm waiting for the right time."
Regarding the Congress government introducing a bill against "hate speech" in the Assembly, Kumaswamy said it is aimed at silencing the opposition in the state, but they won't be successful.
"What do Congress leaders have to say about their workers' comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi?. He cited slogans -- 'Modi teri kabr khudegi, aaj nahi to kal khudegi' (Modi's grave will be dug.. if not today, then tomorrow) -- allegedly raised against Modi at a Congress rally in Delhi on Sunday.
