Karnataka cabinet gives nod to SIT probe in police recruitment scam
Bengaluru, Mar 14: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the police sub-inspector recruitment scam.
The decision to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was taken on the recommendations of Justice B Veerappa Commission.
Justice Veerappa recently submitted his report on the scam and said that 113 people were involved in it including government officers, employees and some middlemen.
Though some people did not respond to the summons, they gave statements in public but did not appear before the commission, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told reporters.
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Since the commission does not have power to summon them forcibly, it said that statements of such people should be obtained through another probe, the minister said.
"Based on the suggestions of the Commission, the cabinet has decided to set up an SIT," Gowda said.
According to him, already the Crime Investigation Department (CID) is probing 17 cases, since the commission highlighted more points that need a probe, an SIT was recommended. Gowda clarified that there was no proposal to stop the investigation by the CID as it would lead to confusions.
The PSI recruitment exam was conducted in October 2021. Large scale irregularities in it forced the government to cancel the examination. Several police officers including ADGP Amrit Paul were arrested.
Other details also emerged from the cabinet meeting, said sources.
The Karnataka cabinet expressed its resolve to build a statue of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari', a symbol of Karnataka, on the Vidhana Soudha premises at a cost of Rs 23 crore. A theme based garden will also be developed around the statue, sources said.
It also decided to develop a tree park on 60-65 acres of NGF land in East Bengaluru near KR Puram. The proposed tree park will have a bicycle track, walking track and a playground. It will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore, the sources said, adding that each acre in that area costs about Rs 25 crore.
The cabinet has also decided to spend Rs 40 crore to upgrade the Primary Health Centres (PHC) by supplying them equipment, "which were not given to them in the last three to four years", sources said.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
