'Depicts Unwelcome State Of Affairs': Karnataka HC In PIL Against Govt Order Making Appointments To Implement 5 Guarantees Of Congress

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (February 27) issued notice to the State Government on a public interest litigation filed questioning the appointments of Chairman, Vice Chairman and other members to the State, District and BBMP level committees formed for implementation of the five guarantees in the state.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun issued notice on the petition filed by a police personnel P Rajeev and directed the state government to file its reply to the petition by March 27.

Senior Advocate Aruna Shyam appearing for the petitioner argued that the Chairman is given Cabinet Rank status and the Vice Chairman with State minister status. However, those who are appointed are neither Cabinet ministers or Ministers of State. The appointees who are made respondents are political workers of the same party (Congress).

Further he submitted that the appointees are also conferred with pecuniary benefits, salary and other perks, as available to Cabinet Rank and State Ministers. Moreover, not only is the nature of appointment highly objectionable, the appointees are going to play pivotal roles in implementing the schemes said to be of high public importance and benefit.

It was claimed that looking at the education qualifications of the appointees it would operate counterproductive to public interest.

The bench on going through the records noted that “The court has noticed the contents of the impugned order/notification as well as pleadings to come to a prima facie view that if the petitioner's ultimate analysis turns out to be true in his case, subject to howsoever stand taken by state government. The things portrayed depict an unwelcome state of affairs.”

It added “On prima facie consideration the court is inclined to solicit reply from the state government. Notice returnable on March 27.”

The Congress party's manifesto during the 2023 Assembly elections provided five guarantees to the people of Karnataka: 'Gruha Jyothi' - 200 units of free electricity to all houses, 'Gruha Lakshmi' - ₹2,000 every month to each and every woman head of a family, 'Anna Bhagya' - 10 kilograms of food grain per month to every member of a below poverty line (BPL) family, 'Yuva Nidhi' - ₹3,000 per month for two years to unemployed graduates and ₹1,500 per month for two years to unemployed diploma holders and 'Uchita Prayana/Shakthi' - free travel to all women throughout the state in regular KSRTC/BMTC Buses.

Case Title: P Rajeev AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 30247/2024