FROM KARNATAKA
By R Guru Prasad from Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court quashed Governor Hansraj Bharadwaj’s sanction to prosecute, then Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa. The High Court also quashed the FIR filed by Lokayukta police against BS Yeddyurappa. Yeddyurappa was forced to resign from the Chief Minister’s post based on a July 27, 2011, report submitted by then Lokayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde on illegal mining. On March 7, a division Bench of Justice K Bhaktavatsala and Justice K Govindrajulu quashed the sanction given by the Governor for Yeddyurappa’s prosection and observed that “The petitioner (Yeddyurappa) was condemned unheard, and there was flagrant violation of the principles of natural justice/fairness in administrative action and statutory provisions.”
The judges also quashed chapter 22 of the Lokayukta report that dealt extensively with Yeddyurappa’s alleged role in illegal mining in Karnataka. “It (Chapter 22) has no connection with illegalities/irregularities in the mining. Therefore, we hold that report of the Lokayukta is also not within the scope of reference made to it by the government,” the court order said.
Soon after hearing the news of court order quashing the case that ousted BS Yeddyurappa from power, several BJP Ministers, MLA’s and large number of Yeddyurappa’s followers thronged to Yeddyurappa’s Race Course Road residence and urged him to become the Chief Minister again. According to reliable sources, reacting to their demand BS Yeddyurappa told them that since his image is clear with the court order, it is up to the high command to keep up their promise to reinstate him.
Even though the court order came as a big Holi gift to BS Yeddyurappa, he still have to await a decision by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court, which will submit a report on whether the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should investigate his role in the mining case.
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