BENGALURU: Putting an end to uncertainty over the forthcoming winter session of legislature, law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra on Saturday announced that the session would commence in the border city of Belgaum in last week of November or first week of December.
Speaking to media persons here, Mr. Jayachandra said the Opposition is “spreading rumors” that the government was not interested in convening the session though there was no ambiguity on the part of the government.
Taunting Opposition leaders, Mr. Jayachandra said there was “no need to create confusion about the session. The government has decided to hold the session in Belgaum, and a decision will be taken by the cabinet very soon,” he said adding that a decision on the duration of the session would also be announced on that day.
The minister said Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa has written to the government that the session ought to be held for at least 17 days in order to reach the target of convening the session for at least 60 days in a year.
Meanwhile, Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj has submitted a memorandum to Mr. Kagodu Thimmappa with a plea that the winter session of legislature should be held in Belgaum.
Mr. Jayachandra said he has requested the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court to set up a special court to hear cases pertaining to land encroachment in and around Bengaluru.
Two district judges, one high court judge and two revenue officers would be members of the special court under the new Act, he said adding that the government would initiate criminal cases against persons who encroach upon government land and lakes.
Mr. Jayachandra said directions have been issued for a special drive on disposal of files at district and taluk centers from November 1 to 30.
He said the state government has bagged Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) 2014 International award for implementation of Sakala scheme. The state government has extended Sakala scheme to 50 departments, offering 669 services.
The minister said since the launch of the scheme, the government received 6.11 crore files and disposed off 6.03 crore files. Nearly 8018 files have been pending disposal. The rejection rate was only five percent because of lack of adequate documents. For the delay in providing service, the government has imposed a fine of Rs. 70, 340, he added.
