The high court on Wednesday directed the state government to quickly formulate rules and regulations to ensure the safety of RTI activists. RTI activist Lingaraju,40, was killed by three unidentified people in front of his house in Chamarajpet.
The high court had taken a suo motu public interest litigation based on newspaper reports. A memo was filed by the state government contending that the it had no objections to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) under Pranab Mohanty, joint commissioner of police, crime (west), and Abdul Ahad, superintendent of police, CID, as one of the members of the team, for investigating the murder of Lingaraju.
The choice of co-opting any other member for the SIT might be left to the chairman of the committee. The high court said the investigation should be completed by February 10, 2013.
Sadashivamurthy, who was earlier director of prosecutions, was appointed as the special public prosecutor (SPP) in the case.
The counsel for the government submitted in the court that the police, on Wednesday, arrested Gowramma, BBMP corporator of Azad Nagar ward from Tamil Nadu. She was said to be one of the conspirators in the murder of Lingaraju. The SPP assured the high court that adequate protection would be given to all witnesses in the case.
Hashmath Pasha, amicus curiae in the case, stressed that in Karnataka, there are no rules for the protection of witnesses.
The division bench headed by chief justice Vikramajit Sen told the state government that it should immediately formulate the rules and regulations to ensure the safety of RTI activists.
The bench appreciated the services of the amicus curie in this case and directed the state government to pay Rs40,000 as compensation to him. However, Pasha requested the court that the money be paid to Lingaraju’s widow.
Notices to water board, LDA, Centre over polluted lake
The high court, on Wednesday, issued notices to the the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the Lake Development Authority (LDA) and the Union government in a petition seeking prevention of further degradation of Bellandur Lake.
Petitioner Kasu Venkata Rajagopal Reddy had questioned the government for its failure to take effective steps to protect and preserve the water body. He contended that the lake was highly polluted because of factors such as excessive urbanisation, changes in landscape and topography, mindless dumping of solid waste and lack of sewage treatment plants.
One of city’s largest lakes are a breeding ground for diseases and an environment hazard, the petitioner contended.
The division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen issued notices to BWSSB, LDA and the Union government.
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