Council members united on teacher's suicide issue

Bangalore, Apr 10 (UNI) Cutting across party lines, the Karnataka Legislative Council members today urged the Government to take strict action against the School Development Management Committee (SDMC) member who was allegedly responsible for the suicide of a woman teacher in Gadag district.

Raising the issue during zero hour, JD(S) member Puttanna said the suicide of teacher T Prema at Venkatapura village was most ''inhuman'' and demanded that the accused be immediately brought to book after holding a Corps of Detectives (COD) inquiry into the incident.

Ms Prema had set herself ablaze on Wednesday in front of the house of the SDMC member, who had allegedly harassed her, leaving behind a suicide note. The accused had been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Intervening, Leader of the Opposition H K Patil demanded that the State Government take immediate measures to file a chargesheet, conduct trial and deliver judgement within 30 days. ''If need be, the State Government should also hold talks with the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice in the matter,'' he said.

Citing an example, he said the accused were brought to book and sentenced to jail within 21 days in a case pertaining to rape of a foreigh national in Gujarat.

Mr Patil also demanded that the State Government investigate the lapses on the part of police officers who had failed to register a case. The Block Education Officer and the Deputy Director of Public Instruction concerned should also be pulled up for their failure to take action on the victim's complaint.

Echoing Mr Patil's views, JD(S) member Abdul Azeem pointed out that the inaction of the officials had led her to frustration.

House leader and Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy, replying to the discussion, described the incident as most inhuman and assured the House that the Government would take stern action against the accused.

Council Chairman Prof B K Chandrashekhar instructed the Government to present all the details of the case in the House.

UNI