Appeal in K'taka official's dismissal case admitted

Bangalore, Apr 10 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today admitted an appeal, filed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) in respect of dismissal proceedings against Ms Indira Bahadur, Registrar of Births and Deaths, in a corruption case.

The appeal was against the judgement of a single judge, who had allowed a writ petition filed by Ms Bahadur, challenging her dismissal from service in pursuance of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Lok Ayukta had laid a trap against the officer on a complaint from one Ranganath that she was demanding illegal gratification to show official favour. On the basis of the Lok Ayukta's findings, she was tried and sentenced to undergo two years imprisonment. The officer had challenged her conviction in an appeal and the appellant court had suspended the sentence.

Meanwhile, the BMP had ordered her dismissal, which she challenged. The High Court had allowed the writ petition on the ground that the BMP had not issued any show-cause notice to the officer and had not held any inquiry or proceedings as per law. The BMP, for the second time, issued a show cause notice and dismissed the official. When the officer challenged the dismissal order, the single judge again set aside the dismissal on the ground that after issue of show cause notice, the BMP had not held any other proceedings.

The BMP had challenged this order in a writ appeal before a division bench, contending that the impugned order of the single judge was not tenable and hence liable to be set aside.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr Justice K L Manjunath, admitted the appeal and adjourned it for hearing to April 13.

UNI XR GD GM2020