No confidence motion: Will go by rules, says K'taka Legislative Council chairman
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Amid speculation about the ruling Congress planning to move a no-confidence motion against him, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Monday said he will abide by the decision of the House, and go by rules regarding the matter.
Horatti also clarified that he has resigned from the primary membership of the BJP, as soon as he was elected as the Chairman in 2022.
According to sources, Congress wants to have its own member as the Chairman, with the numbers now stacked in its favour in the upper house of the legislature.
In the 75-member Council, there are 37 Congress members, an equal number for the NDA (including the Chairman) and an independent Lakhan Jarkiholi, who is believed to be inclined towards Congress.
"Whether there is majority support or not, it is a matter left to the government and the House. It is not related to me. What is decided in the House is final, as the House is supreme. I cannot say anything about that. I will have to abide by the decision of the House. I will abide by it," Horatti said.
ALSO READ: 570 people held in Karnataka for illegal hoarding, sale of 'Anna Bhagya' rice: Minister
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "if the matter comes for discussion, there are rules for it -- whether to discuss or not. I will go by those rules."
The House has to decide on the matter and he cannot say anything on this, Horatti added.
"Depending on the rules under which the matter comes, I will have to bow to the rules and the decision of the House. I will do that," he added.
Meanwhile, according to official sources, the Chairman left for Bengaluru on Monday.
Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav has accused Horratti of partisan conduct and alleged irregularities in connection with recruitment to council.
Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP-JD (S) and Congress' numbers are equal, and there is one independent, who is close to CM Siddaramaiah. "So, we have the majority."
Rejecting Yadav's allegations of irregularities in connection with direct recruitment to the Legislative Council secretariat as it was allegedly in violation of rules, Horatti said he would not occupy the chair even for a minute if they are proved.
"Recruitment for the posts were conducted through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA,) based on examination and merit list," he said.
Regarding allegations of him being partisan, Horatti said, though he was elected from the BJP, he had resigned from the party on his election to the Chairman post.
Regarding allegation relating to his handling of a tussle between Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and BJP MLC C T Ravi during the session in Belagavi last year, the Chairman said he had formed a committee to look into it, which had met twice, and based on its report, action will be taken.
A controversy had erupted when Ravi allegedly used a derogatory word against Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council, during an altercation between them, when the House was adjourned for a while.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
