Round The States

New Delhi, 12 March 2016

Lokayukta Controversy

KARNATAKA GETS ENTANGLED

By Insaf

Karnataka is the latest Sate to get enmeshed in controversy over appointment of the Lokayukta. While Chief Minister Siddaramiah has recommended the name of Justice S R Nayak to the Governor for the coveted post, the latter has sought clarifications. This after Vajubhai R Vala got a petition from Janaadhikara Sangharsha Parishad alleging that Justice Nayak as Karnataka Law Commission Chairman flouted rules and secured a housing plot in the Judicial Layout of the city. This apart, Opposition BJP’s members in the consultative committee had opposed his candidature and had pitched for former Chief Justice of Karnataka HC and retired Supreme Court judge Vikramjit Sen for the post. Further, questions have also been raised whether Nayak can be appointed Lokayukta despite having been Chairman, Karnataka State Human Rights Commission. According to the Act, a person once appointed as Chairman, cannot be considered for any further employment by the Centre or the State. How soon will the State get its Lokayukta is the question doing the rounds. Not too long a wait as was with Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for its Lokayukta.   

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Delhi’s Embedded Extravaganza

Money talks! That’s the message spoilt Delhi seems to be sending out following the National Green Tribunal’s go-ahead to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Art of Living’s 3-day World Culture Festival on the floodplains of Yamuna. The Tribunal makes note of the environmental violations but doesn’t ban the event and instead slaps a hefty fine of Rs five core on AOL as ‘interim compensation.’ It expresses helplessness and let’s go, on grounds of “fait accompli” as the issue came to its door too late. The NGT has also fined the DDA Rs 5 lakh and Delhi Pollution Control Committee Rs 1 Lakh for lapses while granting licences.  Is this fair given that floodplains have been tampered with and ramps, roads, compaction of earth, pontoon bridges and other semi-permanent or temporary structures constructed without requisite permission?  The issue obviously raised a stink. Delhi HC said the event is an ecological “disaster,” Rajya Sabha members lambasted Defence Ministry for using the Army for construction of Platoon bridges for a private event, President Mukherjee pulled out of the valedictory function, Delhi police and CPWD are worried over the safety of the stage structure etc. But the mega show goes on. Heard the song ‘paisa do, tamasha dekho’?

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Andhra Capital Land Scam

The alleged land scam revolving around Andhra’s dream capital Amaravati is getting murkier. Opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy is demanding a CBI inquiry over ‘land deals’ by members of Chandrababu Naidu’s Cabinet. He has accused that many TDP leaders, ministers and MLAs have purchased land in the capital area, based on insider information and this is a breach of the oath of secrecy sworn by the CM and Ministers. Add to this that they would all make a killing while reselling the land needed for the world-class capital. However, Naidu rubbishes the accusations saying purchasing land doesn’t arise as farmers have pooled about 34,000 acres and another 20,000 acres of State-owned land is available to build the capital. He assures the Assembly that ministers found guilty will be dismissed. However, Insaf in Hyderabad learnt that powers-that-be were acquiring land and work on the capital was very tardy, putting a question mark whether Naidu would meet deadlines.      

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Rajasthan Education Row

Rajasthan has a penchant for basic and quality education. However, its ‘well-meaning’ intent ends up in a controversy. One, the State’s matriculation criteria for contesting Panchayat polls made the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha see red and Modi at the Centre pink with embarrassment. The Congress got the House to pass an amendment to President Mukherjee’s address, expressing regret that his speech didn’t commit support to rights of all citizens to contest panchayat polls! Second, a recent Bill passed by the Assembly to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act has irked the HRD Ministry. Recall, the RTE Act prohibits all schools from failing and expelling a student up to Class VIII. However, Rajasthan has added a proviso: “provided that if a child has not achieved class appropriate learning level in a class, he may be held back in that class.” This is a no-go with the HRD Ministry as the amendment goes against the Act’s ‘spirit’. Plus a State cannot change a Central law. Will the Bill get the President’s nod, is the big question. Other States, who too think that automatically promoting a child would lead to a sharp decline in the quality of students at the elementary level, will be keeping a close watch on the fate of Rajasthan’s Bill. 

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Centre Bats For States

The States should be happy. The Centre’s not just talking about federalism but seeking to act on it. In its plea to the Supreme Court to reconsider its earlier order of May last, allowing only photos of Chief Justice of India, the PM and President in Government advertisements, the Centre argued that the judgement was against the federal structure as a Chief Minister was as important in a State as the PM and a CM could not be restrained from telling people about the work done by the State government. This apart, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi also batted for Modi’s ministers saying their photos also be allowed. The logic being: “Publishing picture of only the PM would lead to personality cult which was against the very spirit of its judgment meant to curb the cult image of politicians....Ministers have become nameless and faceless... each one is as important and must be allowed to inform the people about the his service as otherwise he would be thrown out in the next election...” Recall, seven States West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh had petitioned against the apex court’s order. Its verdict is eagerly awaited. 

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Bihar Is Not In Order

The Bihar government should be embarrassed. Yet again its leaders have given the Opposition handle to question its tall claims on law and order. This after Minority Welfare Minister Abdul Ghafoor and RJD’s Raghunathpur MLA Harishankar Yadav’s paid a “courtesy call” on former RJD MP and convicted criminal Mohammed Shahabuddin in Siwan jail. The video footage went viral. The timing was bad, as the government has been under attack for the past one month in its inability to arrest Nawada MLA Rajballabh Yadav in connection with the alleged rape of a Nalanda girl. Fortunately, for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the MLA resurfaced in Biharsharif court on Thursday last. But the Opposition is up in arms. It has questioned how can criminals be afraid of the law when a Minister visits him and calls it a courtesy call! With his Government being accused of shielding criminals, Nitish will need to pull the reins on his ministers to get a breather? ----INFA

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