Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Updated

Kundapur, Nov 19: Expressing his support for the programme, 'Lets join hands for legal service' after inaugurating it here on Saturday November 18, Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty hailed this programme for being helpful to the needy. He said that the aims of the Lokayukta and legal services aurhority are one and the same.

He was speaking after inaugurating the said programme organized under the aegis of the local taluk legal services authority, bar association, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Programme and some other organizations and institutions.

Justice Shetty noted that the ultimate goal of both the Lokayukta and the said authority is to ensure justice to common people and noted that the authority has initiated several steps towards achieving this goal. "The main motive of the constitution is to do away with inequality and making sure that people are not denied access to justice just because they do not have money. Delivery of justice should never be allowed to feel like a mirage. With passage of time, number of pending cases is increasing. Judiciary is bogged down by shortage of judges and other staff to clear the cases faster," he stated. He said that to tackle this problem, cases re being settled through people's courts and Lok Adalats.

Justice Shetty hailed the roles played by Anganwadi teachers and 'Asha' volunteers who take care of the children before their births and also after birth till the children attain the age of five.

On this occasion, prizes were distributed to winners of various competitions organized on the occasion. Judge of the chief district court, Venkatesh Nayak, over the meeting. Additional district sessions judge, Prakash Khaderi, was present at the dais.

President of the taluk bar association Bannadi Somanath Hegde, welcomed. Advocate, Shyamala Bhandary, presented the programme.

Press Conference

The Lokayukta addressed a press conference at the travellers bungalow here on Saturday in which he said that the number of pending cases, which stood at 6,500 when he took charge, has been maintained at that level in spite of large number of cases received every month, by speeding up disposal of cases. "Speed of investigation has picked up. We are disposing off cases faster than before. About 90 to 100cases are registered every month, and every investigating officer conducts investigation in about 50 cases, he added.

Justice Shetty confessed that efforts to further lessen the pending cases is hit because of shortage of human resources. "We had written to the government during April this year seeking to provide additional staff. We sought nine investigating officers and other related staff. When the finance department sought clarification, we provided it. We hope that the demand would be met soon," he said.

When media persons raised the topic of the ire expressed by him about the complaint of Harikrighna Bantwal against forest minister, Ramanath Rai for the issue having caught media attention on a large scale, he clarified that the Lokayukta is expected to be impartial in deciding the cases and the question of why Bantwal complained against Rai becomes relevant. He said the suspicion whether the complaint was made because of political considerations had to be addressed and the background of the complainant becomes important in such cases.

At the same time, he hastened to add that registration of case cannot be denied if there are actually legal lapses. "If the persons concerned wants justice and honest redressal of their complaints, they do not need to approach the media. I was not aware of this, but my investigating officer drew my attention to this fact. We look into every complaint from two angles, whether there is public interest or just the desire to get publicity. I have got the feedback that Harikrishna Bantwal is a good man. I questioned him when he gave the complaint as I guessed that it was backed by political intention," he clarified.

Udupi: Equal justice is the aspiration of constitution – Lokayukta

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP)

Udupi, Nov 18: "Though the law board does not have the authority to punish the offenders, it can do so through Lokayukta,” said Karnataka Lokayukta, P Vishwanath Shetty.

He was speaking after inaugurating the concluding part of 'legal information awareness programme', held by Udupi district administration, district legal services authority, association of lawyers and police department in the district court premises on Saturday, November 18.

“Free legal assistance service started with the intention of providing legal assistance to everybody as per the aspiration of the constitution, is assuring equal justice to all. All the beneficiaries should be able to obtain help from law board. Legal occupation is highly respected in the society and lawyers are able to use it for social betterment and progress. Our country has the history of lawyers who have gone to jail and sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence. However, the system is maligned now. It is necessary for all to join and improve the health of society instead of blaming government officials alone for it.

“Today, victims can get justice through Lok Adalats, when justice gets delayed for various reasons. When verdicts from a certain court, can be questioned in other court, the verdicts from Lok Adalats cannot be appealed. It is beneficial to sort out the cases in Lok Adalats instead of court. As there is a provision to submit an appeal in higher courts, the court cases can be time consuming. In a compromise through Lok Adalat both the parties will be satisfied because of quick decision.” he added

Continuing his opinion on the subject, he said, “Missing cases of women and children have come to the notice of Lokayukta. Information in this regard is being sought from concerned departments, so that social evils can be prevented. It is not the work that can only be done by the government, but cooperation of people is also necessary."

District and sessions judge and legal service authority president, Venkatesh Naik T, presided over the programme. District SP, Dr Sanjeev Patil, district advocate’s association president, H Ratnakar Shetty were present.

District legal services authority secretary and senior civil judge, Latha welcomed the gatheirng. Advocate’s association chief secretary, A Santhosh Hebbar proposed Vote of thanks. Advocate Mary Shresta compered the programme.

Students from Milagres College, Kallianpur performed a street play about children’s rights.

Mangaluru: Lokayukta instructs RTA to hold Transport Adalat within 15 days

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 19: Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice P Vishwanath Shetty, instructed district Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to convene transport Adalat within 15 days. He passed on this instruction after a person submitted a complaint accusing the RTA of failing to hold transport Adalats regularly.

The said complaint was handed over to the Lokayukta by a person named Ashok Bhat at the programme of hearing and disposal of public complaints organized at Town Hall here on Saturday November 18. Bhat said that the RTA has failed to stick to the rule which has made it mandatory to hold transport Adalats once in three months. In response, district transport officer, G S Hegde, said that Adalats are not being held because of staff shortage. The Lokayukta said that shortage of staff cannot be an excuse for not holding transport Adalats, and instructed the officials to hold the next Adalat within 15 days.

The Lokayuta said that he has undertaken state-wide tour to provide faster redressal of grievances of the people and has so far covered 23 districts. He explained that seeking bribe is not the only criteria to decide on maladministration. He pointed out that not working transparently and not serving the people properly also fall under this category and the Lokayukta Act provides for initiating disciplinary proceedings government employees in such lapses.

A total of 104 complaints were submitted on the occasion against various departments including revenue, police and several other departments apart from city corporation and police department. Out of 104 complaints received between November 15 and 17 afternoon, 32 were disposed off on the spot. The Lokayukta said that there have also been allegations that some of the people filing applications under Right to Information Act are driven by the aim of misusing the provisions of the said act and therefore, Lokayukta police have been directed to properly investigate the backgrounds of people who are in the habit of filing large number of applications.

Lokayukta additional registrar, Mohan, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Sasikanth Senthil, chief executive officer of zilla panchayat, M R Ravi, Lokayukta superintendent of police, Reshma G K and district superintendent of police, Sudheer Kumar Reddy, were present.

Justice Shetty said that the remaining complaints will be disposed off on December 4 in a similar programme, which will begin at 2.30 pm. He directed officials to take appropriate steps on the complaints received and submit a report on December 4.