Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Feb 27: In a far-reaching verdict, the state High Court on Thursday February 26, said that the government is fully empowered to examine the working of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) of which Revanna, son of JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, is the current chairman. As a result, in the ongoing clash of egos that is going on between Revanna and chief minister (CM) B S Yeddyurappa, the CM has scored a win.

KMF chairman H D Revanna and directors of nine milk unions had sought a stay order from the High Court, against the review of the audited accounts of the KMF ordered by the state government, alleging that the decision was politically motivated.  However, Justice D V Shailendra Kumar who heard the petition, dismissed it by saying that the government's order was in consonance with the need to maintain adminsitrative transparency.

The Judge expressed his resentment at the KMF's petition, saying that the KMF governing council should have opened itself up for any kind of audit or reviews, as this is a good opportunity for it to show that it is following the practice of administrative transparency. The KMF chairman and other office bearers need not have got perturbed by the purpose behind such an order. Unfortunately, they have sought to question the government's move by approaching the court, he observed, making known his displeasure.

He criticized the petitioners for their action, saying that the questioning the motive of the government in ordering review of the KMF accounts is ridiculous. These are normal procedures aimed at ensuing that public money is not being misused, he observed. He found no merit in the arguments of the petitioners that the government does not have power to order the review of accounts and that such a move is backed by political enmity.

He also did not support the KMF contention that the government does not have right to examine its accounts because it does not get any grants from the government.