Karnataka Legislature secretary S Murthy suspended on charge of financial indiscipline
Bengaluru,Dec 29: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary S Murthy has been suspended, pending a departmental inquiry, on charges of financial indiscipline during the 2016 and 2017 winter sessions of the state legislature in Belagavi.
An official order announcing the action said that he would remain under suspension as per the 'Karnataka Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules.'
The alleged financial indiscipline is said to have led to excess expenditure during the sessions.
Terming the allegations as "baseless," Murthy said that he would move court, challenging his suspension.
"I have been accused of misleading the then Speaker, but it is not true," he told PTI.
"Has the then Speaker K B Koliwad told them (committee) that I have misled him?" he asked.
The present Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar had ordered a probe into charges of financial misappropriation, following which a five-member team, headed by the Karnataka State Audit and Accounts Department Additional Director submitted a report earlier this month.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the winter session at Belagavi on December 21, Kumar had said that "We are not happy about huge money that was spent last time, so we tried curtailing on it while not compromising on quality.
Compared to last year, we have been able to reduce the spending by about Rs 8 crore-10 crore this time.... last year according to information that I have, it had gone up to Rs 20 crore-22 crore," he had said.
Prior to the winter session,Murthy was stripped of his administrative and financial powers and a special officer appointed in his place, leaving him with only the session duty.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
