Janardhan Reddy ignores court summons, again

BELLARY: Kudligi court on Wednesday, adjourned the hearing of a case filed by TNR Mines against Tourism Minister G Janardhan Reddy and others, to September 6.

The company had filed a case in Sandur court in 2006, alleging destruction of its mining borders and threatening its owner. The court had issued nonbailable warrants against Reddy, as many as eight times in the past for not honouring its summons.

Following an advancement appeal for his physical appearance in the court by Reddy two days ago, Kudligi court, had allowed him to be present on Wednesday.

However, Reddy did not appear. Following submission of a copy of the High Court direction to the court by Reddy's advocates, Judge BG Pramod adjourned the hearing to September 6.

HC seeks details on mining licences since 2007

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the director of mines and geology to submit a report regarding the issuance of licences for mining to more than one person in the same area, since January 2007.

Hearing a contempt petition, a division bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, directed Shivalinga Murthy, director of mines and geology to submit the report before September 13.

The bench has asked the government not to repeat such mistakes in future, as it involves public interest. The director, who appeared before the court, submitted that there were instances of more than one permit being issued in the same area. The trend was curtailed after the Centre issued new guidelines for issuance of licences.

Before issuing the licences, a survey will be conducted and boundaries would be earmarked through satellite images. Earlier, this facility was not available, he said.

Siddu taunts Reddy brothers

Hassan: Accusing Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa of airing misleading statements over the illegal mining issue, Opposition leader in Assembly Siddaramaiah on Wednesday accused the former of being handinglove with the Reddy brothers in illegal mining.

He added that the CM did not take stringent steps to check transportation of illegally mined ore from Belekeri port.

Siddaramaiah was speaking to media persons in Arsikere on the way to Kadur while campaigning for the byelections. He said the CM was being silent on the mining scandal and not giving official postings to sincere officers.

He also questioned Aruna Janardhan Reddy's decision to invest `35,000 in iron industry in 2010 when Janardhan Reddy was not an income tax payer in 2008. Siddaramaiah said that illegal mining in the state has placed a burden of `60,000 crore on the state exchequer, and added the Congress had demanded a CBI probe over illegal mining as the Lokayukta has no powers to probe the ministers.

'Sack Sreeramulu and Ramachandra Gowda'

Siddaramaiah has also said that the Chief Minister should sack Health Minister Sreeramulu and Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda for having completely failed to discharge their duties.

Taking exception to the introduction of AntiCow Slaughter Bill, he said the government was only luring workers attached to Vishva Hindu Parishat and Bajrang Dal. The President should not give consent to the Bill in the best interests of the state, he added.

Siddaramaiah lauded the CM for taking the right decision over the alleged illegal appointments at Hassan Institute of Medical Science (HIMS), and blamed the then institute director for illegally appointing 119 people, who had received recommendations from a former district minister. "The government should cancel the recruitment process and announce fresh notifications for the posts," he said.