Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 9: The state high court (HC), through an order, dismissed a petition filed by former president and current member of Moodushedde gram panchayat, Umesh, questioning issuance of show cause notice by the state government on him, based on the report of Upa Lokayukta.

The division bench of the high court comprising Justice H G Ramesh and Justice K N Phaneendra noted that the court did not have any reasons to interfere with the issue and advised the petitioner to furnish his reply to the show cause notice. It said that it is not inclined to use its powers under chapter 226 of the constitution at this juncture.

"It would not be proper to say that the report of the Upa Lokayukta was beyond its jurisdiction.  The rights of the petitioner have not been harmed as the member was informed under section 12 of Lokayukta Act 1984 based on the report of the competent authority. The concerned has to furnish a reply to the notice. If any action is taken after that against him, he has the right to question it," the bench observed.

The Upa Lokayukta had sent a report against Umesh on February 8 this year. The government has thereby served a show cause notice on him, seeking to know why action should not be taken against him based on the said report under Panchayat Raj Act 1993, which was questioned by the petitioner in court.