Cabinet panel to look into govt holidays in Karnataka

Agencies

November 19, 2018

Bengaluru, Nov 19: The Karnataka cabinet Monday decided to constitute a cabinet sub-committee to look into possible changes in government holidays in view of growing opinion against such vacation on grounds that it affected public work.

The cabinet which approved 21 days of generalholidays for 2019 for various festivals and other events decided to form the sub-committee to discuss about the nature, number of holidays and the occasions for holidays among others, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.

There wasgrowing discussion about increase in government holidays andfalling number of working days. Also, officials were of the view that the holidays be given during the weekend, which would help them inspending time with their families, he said.

The committee had been asked to submit a report, he told reporters here.

According to official sources, there had been suggestions to restrict the government holidays to important nationaldays, doing away with birth anniversaries of various personalities and giving an additional Saturday off in addition to the existing holiday on second Saturdays.

The cabinet paid tributes to Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who passed away on November 12.

It decided to bear the land acquisition cost of about Rs 4,500 crore for the 65-km peripheral ring road around the city to overcome traffic congestion.

The project was long pending as no agencywas willing to foot the bill for land acquisition, he said, adding the cabinet decision was taken after exhausting all other means.

According to the state government's estimate, total expenditure for the project, including land acquisition of about 1,810 acre, was expected to be about Rs 17,000 crore.

The cabinet decided to go vertical by adapting ground plus fourteen floors model, instead of ground plus three floors model, under the Chief Minister's one Lakh Housing Project with an intention of benefiting more people in the limited space available in cities.

For modernising the police under "SmartPolicing programme", Rs 32.89 crore had been approved, Gowdasaid.

The cabinet also decided to bring inan amendment to the Lokayuka act to authorise the Upalokayuta to take up cases, if the Lokayukta recuses himself from any case.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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