Latest news with #KarnatakaLokayuktaAct
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delayed relief to kin of martyrs: 31 cases filed
BENGALURU: Since many dependents of martyrs and ex-servicemen are still waiting for government benefits even after decades, the two Upa Lokayuktas on Tuesday filed 31 suo motu complaints—one for each district. This aims to push the state to deliver the promised support. A first-of-its-kind massive joint action was taken by the Upa Lokayuktas- Justice K N Phaneendra and Justice B Veerappa ahead of the 79th Independence Day celebrations. Speaking to TNIE, Justice Phaneendra, Upa Lokayukta-1, in charge of 15 districts, said the move aims to support families of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, after receiving multiple complaints about martyrs' and ex-servicemen's families struggling to get their due benefits. Justice Veerappa, Upa Lokayukta-2, in charge of 16 districts, said, 'We are safe because of the soldiers who are shedding blood on the border. Despite laws being brought to facilitate certain benefits to them, neither have they been given land nor a site, which amounts to maladministration under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, he said. The Upa Lokayuktas have fixed the responsibility to the Assistant Commissioners of all districts to ensure that all the reports are submitted by September 24. Further, the copies of the suomoto complaints have been marked to the Deputy Commissioners, and also to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department. Upa Lokayuktas cited cases like Geetha B C, from Mandya, who hasn't received benefits 20 years after her husband's death, and N K Lalithambika from Tumakuru, who's been fighting for land promised to her 50 years ago. Details sought from each tahsildar How many ex-servicemen are there in each taluk How many were martyred while in service How many of them have been provided statutory relief, benefits How many of them were allotted land or site under Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969 How many applications have been received, approved, pending If no benefits are given, reasons must be given along with the explanation by the tahsildars
NDTV
05-08-2025
- NDTV
Lokayukta Pulls Up Civic Body Over Stray Dog Menace In Bengaluru
In a scathing indictment of civic negligence, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice BS Patil has pulled up the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for its failure to tackle the growing menace of stray dog attacks in the city. The sharp remarks came following an investigation into the death of an elderly man named Seetappa, who was fatally mauled by stray dogs last week. Justice Patil convened a high-level meeting on Monday to examine the incident and assess BBMP's handling of the situation. Senior officials from the civic body, including zonal commissioners, joint commissioners of Yelahanka and East zones, directors and deputy directors of animal husbandry, medical officers, and the Special Commissioner for Health, were summoned. Members of the Nethravathi Colony Residents' Welfare Association, where the incident occurred, were also present. During the meeting, the Lokayukta revealed findings from an independent probe led by Dr. Vamshikrishna, Superintendent of Police, Urban Division. The report confirmed that Seetappa died due to injuries sustained from a dog attack and held BBMP officials accountable for negligence. Photographic evidence and eyewitness accounts further corroborated the claim. One of the key lapses highlighted was the BBMP's failure to establish observation homes for aggressive dogs, despite prior instructions from the Lokayukta. Officials admitted that while an observation facility in Yelahanka is under construction and expected to be completed within 15 days, it would only be capable of housing 40-50 dogs. Justice Patil called this wholly inadequate and directed that such facilities be set up in every ward to identify, monitor, and isolate aggressive stray dogs effectively. Residents from Nethravathi Colony raised alarming concerns during the hearing, stating that dogs had attacked over 40 people in the area since January 2025. In at least 14 of those cases, formal complaints were filed. Adding to the outrage, residents who attended the meeting alleged that the BBMP, after capturing these aggressive dogs, would release them back into the same locality, leading to repeated attacks. Startling figures presented by the BBMP's Health Department further underscored the crisis: 2,60,514 dog bite cases have been reported across the state since January 2025. In the last week of July alone, 10,212 new bite cases were recorded. A total of 13,831 deaths due to rabies have been reported this year, with 8,878 in Bengaluru city and 4,408 in rural Bengaluru. Justice Patil concluded the meeting by announcing that strict action will be initiated under Section 13 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act against the officials found responsible for any negligence in dealing with this menace. He also directed zonal and joint commissioners of the civic body to identify and take disciplinary action against any negligent staff.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Upa Lokayukta takes suo motu action over neglect of ancient Srirama temple
BENGALURU: Taking suo motu cognisance of the dilapidated condition of the Srirama temple, a protected monument situated in Kudluru of Channapatna taluk in Bengaluru South district, Upa Lokayukta Justice K N Phaneendra registered a case against all the concerned authorities and sought an explanation for their inaction. Justice Phaneendra's action came after he took note of the sorry state of affairs of the temple after he visited it while he was on his way to check the rampant pollution and encroachment of lakes on July 7, along with Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru South District Yashavanth V Gurukar, other officials. Justice Phaneendra noted that this is one among the famous temples constructed on the bank of the river Kanva between the fourth and fifth centuries ago by the Ganga empire, and it was declared a protected monument on May 5, 1987. The compound of the wall and retaining wall on the right side of the stone pillar outside the temple are nearly collapsing, the stone wall in in the sanctum sanctorum is slipping, it also developed cracks inside the walls of the temple- all of these could led to a big disaster, if not paid attention to immediately, Justice Phaneendra noted. The Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Archaeological Department, Tarakesh, who was present, told Upa Lokayukta that the compound wall collapsed due to erosion of the bund of the river, which was exploited severely for sand mining. When enquired, Mohan, Executive Engineer (EE), CNNL, informed the Upa Lokayukta that the construction of the retaining wall will be taken up by them if the proposal comes from the state government. However, this monument has been neglected by the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, CNNL, Revenue Department, which amounts to 'Maladministration' under Section 2(10) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, he said. Therefore, in order to take action against them as well as remedial measures to protect the monument, he registered a suo motu case against officials Tarakesh, Mohan, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ali Khan, who is the Tahsildar of Muzrai Department, Bengaluru South District.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Upa Lokayukta to launch massive drive to plant 80k saplings in Karnataka's Tumakuru
BENGALURU: Continuing his mission to protect and enrich the environment, Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa will on Thursday launch a massive drive to plant 80,000 saplings in 300 acres of forest land in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru District The programme was reclaimed by the revenue department from encroachers and handed over to the forest department. After taking over as Upa Lokayukta in July 2024, Justice Veerappa was instrumental in planting 40,000 saplings, including 25,000 in Tumakuru, 10,000 in Kolar and 2,000 in Karighatta of Mandya district. The land at Chikkanayakanahalli was occupied by encroachers for decades and was restored as forest land. Despite a recommendation made by the then Upa Lokayukta Justice N Anand under Section 12(1) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act in 2019 on a complaint filed in 2015 by one Siddalingegowda, the land was not reclaimed by the state authorities for about six years. Taking up the matter after taking charge, Justice Veerappa warned of referring the matter to the governor for action, while summoning the officials concerned and fixing hearings back-to-back to take the issue to a logical end. The proceedings culminated with the revenue department reclaiming the land and making related entries in the revenue records on June 17, 2025, to show that this land belongs to the forest. 'I am launching the plantation drive to protect the land from unscrupulous persons and enrich nature further,' Justice Veerappa told TNIE.
New Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lokayukta vigilance wing set up to fight internal corruption
BENGALURU: With no positive response from the state government on the constitution of the vigilance wing at the Lokayukta, the anti-corruption watchdog has gone ahead with setting up a division to fight corruption and maladministration within its own institution. To set up the vigilance wing, Lokayukta Justice BS Patil had requested the state government to create 24 posts, including a sitting District Judge to lead the wing along with one SP, one DySP, two inspectors and others. 'Apart from that, we had also written to the government to sanction 339 posts last October for the entire Lokayukta. Awaiting the government's response, we have constituted the vigilance wing to be headed by the Registrar,' said Justice Patil. The institution is handling nearly 25,000 cases, both under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act. As against 1,929 sanctioned strength, its working strength is 1,309.
