Bengaluru: The reluctance of the Congress government in the state to table the inquiry report prepared by former chairman of Karnataka State Minority Commission Anwar Manipaddy on alleged misuse of wakf properties in the state, before the Legislature, has taken a new turn with the Karnataka high court issuing notices to the chief secretary on a contempt plea. There have been allegations that political bigwigs are involved in this scam.
Former minister, Mr S.K. Kantha has filed the contempt petition in the high court against the state government for its failure to submit the report in the legislature. In the petition, Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav and Principal Secretary, Minorities Welfare Department, Mr Syed Salim Adoni have been named accused number one and two respectively. The High Court has issued notices to the duo asking them to reply within two days after the receipt of notice. Earlier, the court had disposed of a petition filed by Mr Kantha, a former minister, on September 10, 2015 after Mr A.G. Shivanna, additional advocate general(AAG), stated that the special report submitted to then CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda on March 26, 2012, will be placed before both Houses in the February 2016 session. In spite of the court's order, the accused number 1 and 2 have failed to comply with the order to place the entire report before the House, the petitioner contended while requesting the court to hold the chief secretary and principal secretary in contempt under Article 215 read with Section 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act 1971 for not complying with the court's order.
High drama was witnessed in the Legislature on February 5, 2016, when the government submitted its recommendations on the Manippady report with the Law and Parliamentary Minister contending that the government had rejected the special report and hence the question of tabling the report does not arise.
This decision of the government had put Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy in a fix and he reserved his ruling since the opinion of legal experts was needed. The ruling party members reportedly gave an evasive reply when BJP members reminded them about the affidavit given by the AAG, Mr A.G. Shivanna in September, 2015. Dissatisfied with the government's reply, BJP members decided to continue their dharna till the government agrees to table the special report.
