Karnataka High Court Halts Government Enquiry into Alleged Commissions

Karnataka High Court Halts Government Enquiry into Alleged Commissions

VoM News Desk | December 10, 2023 | 11:02 AM IST | Courts & Law, Karnataka | Follow on Google News

Karnataka High Court Halts Government Enquiry into Alleged Commissions

Karnataka High Court Halts Government Enquiry into Alleged Commissions

The High Court of Karnataka has intervened by issuing a stay on a Government Order establishing a one-man inquiry commission, led by retired High Court Judge H N Nagamohan Das.

The commission’s mandate was to investigate allegations concerning a purported “40 per cent commission” in government contracts, allegedly involving certain contractors.

The State Government issued this order on August 5, 2023, to scrutinize contracts allocated in various departments from 2019-20 to 2022-23, such as Urban Development, Water Resources, Minor Irrigation, Rural Development, Public Works, and Panchayat Raj.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, presiding over a petition filed by multiple contractors, temporarily stayed the Government Order on December 7.

The court expressed concerns regarding the State’s motives behind initiating the inquiry commission and indicated a change in the State’s stance, seemingly influenced by a change in government.

Consequently, the court ordered a suspension of all further proceedings until the State provides justifiable reasons for issuing the contentious order or forming the one-man inquiry commission.

The petitioners, including Nikshep Infra Projects and 44 other contractors, prompted the formation of a Special Investigating Cell dedicated to probing the challenged works.

The Additional Government Advocate was instructed to accept the notice on behalf of the Urban Development Department of the Karnataka Government.

Although the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was included as the second respondent in the case, the petition did not seek any relief from the civic body.

The petitioners clarified that the BBMP’s involvement was merely for comprehensive representation.

The intervention by the Karnataka High Court highlights the legal scrutiny and temporary suspension of the investigation initiated by the State Government, subject to further justification and validation of its action.

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