Karnataka Covid-19 scam: Panel recommends recovery of Rs 187.91 crore from government entities
Bengaluru: The Justice John Michael D'Cunha Commission, appointed to investigate alleged irregularities in Karnataka's Covid-19 procurement, has recommended the recovery of Rs 187.91 crore from three government entities and the initiation of criminal proceedings against several officials for lapses. Notices were issued to the National Health Mission (NHM) mission director, the director and chief engineer of the Health and Family Welfare Department, and the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation (KSMSCL) managing director for explanations regarding discrepancies, including 16 missing files and irregularities in civil works for 50 oxygen generation plants.
The report, based on four Covid-19 procurement investigation reports handed over to the Health Department, highlights a total expenditure of Rs 5,124 crore by the NHM, Health and Family Welfare Department, and KSMSCL during the pandemic, of which Rs 187.91 crore requires recovery. The commission recommended inquiries or criminal proceedings in 85 cases, citing violations of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act and other lapses.
Notices were also prepared for 456 suppliers due to contractual breaches, delays, quality concerns, and financial discrepancies. The department has proposed forming a team of seven officials, including a senior KAS officer, to handle action based on the commission’s findings, which includes setting up a separate office to frame charges, issue notices, record objections, and oversee the recovery process.
The report criticises the NHM mission director’s decision to outsource testing to private labs, calling it arbitrary, non-transparent, and designed to favour certain labs over fair competition. The NHM office retained Rs 3 crore from the Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP) funds, with a portion allocated to private labs without the necessary technical capacity assessments. Payments totalling Rs 4.28 crore were reportedly made to labs for RT-PCR testing without administrative approval, in violation of the government’s temporary regulations prohibiting private labs from Covid-19 testing.
The commission's findings are now under review for further action by the Karnataka Health Department.
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Al Jazeera condemns Palestinian Authority's decision to bar it from operating in occupied West Bank
Dubai, Jan 2: Al Jazeera has condemned the Palestinian Authority's decision to bar it from operating in the occupied West Bank, saying the decision was “in line” with similar actions taken by Israel.
In a statement Thursday, the Qatar-based broadcaster accused the Western-backed authority of seeking to “hide the truth about events in the occupied territories, especially what is happening in Jenin and its camps.”
The Palestinian Authority, which cooperates with Israel on security matters, launched a rare crackdown on anti-Israel group in the urban Jenin refugee camp last month. The authority has international support but is unpopular among many Palestinians, with critics portraying it as a subcontractor of the Israeli occupation.
The Palestinian Authority announced the suspension of Al Jazeera's activities on Wednesday, accusing it of incitement and interfering in Palestinian internal affairs. The Palestinian Authority exercises limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel banned Al Jazeera last year, accusing it of being a mouthpiece of Hamas. Israeli strikes have killed or wounded several Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza, and Israel has accused some of them of being Hamas members. Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera's West Bank headquarters last year, but the broadcaster has continued to operate in the territory.
Al Jazeera denies the allegations and accuses Israel of trying to silence its coverage. Its 24-hour reporting from Gaza has focused on the deaths of Palestinian civilians. It has also broadcast Hamas and other group videos in their entirety, showing attacks on Israeli forces and hostages speaking under duress.
Al Jazeera deplores the Palestinian Authority's decision to close its office in the West Bank and considers it in line with the occupation's actions against its staff. pic.twitter.com/VrGHiM9UzC
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 2, 2025
