HC stays working of Padmaraj inquiry commission for a day

Bangalore, Jan 13 (PTI) The Karnataka High Court todaystayed for a day functioning of Justice B Padmaraj Commissionappointed to probe alleged land scams and sought the stategovernment''s opinion on the issue by tomorrow.

The court opined that no meaningful public propose canbe served if probe was carried out simultaneously by twoagencies in an apparent reference to the inquiries beingcarried out by Lokayukta and the Commission headed by retiredjudge B Padmaraj on the same issue.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Kheharand Justice A S Bopanna, directed the state government toconvey its opinion whether two agencies -- Karnataka Lokayuktaand the Inquiry commission -- can carry on probesimultaneously or not.

The bench, which was hearing a petition filed by JDSleader Y S V Datta, also directed Additional Advocate Generalto convey the government''s opinion on the issue by tomorrow.

Datta had sought a direction that only Lokayuktashould probe the allegations of irregularities in landallotment and denotification of land by Karnataka IndustrialArea Development Board and Bangalore Development Authority.