Speaker upholds Kharge's stance

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 27. There were heated exchange of words on the part of the members in the Assembly on Friday on their right to level allegations of corruption against officials without serving a notice.

The matter arose in view of an allegation that an accounts officer in the office of the Chief Engineer, minor irrigation, Bangalore, was demanding from the contractors a three per cent cut before releasing the Line of Credit for taking up works.

The Speaker, Mr. M. V. Venkatappa, ruled later that the members could not raise such matters without giving notice to the Chair about their intention. Upholding a point of order raised by the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Speaker said that the Minister concerned should be informed in turn. He quoted from the book ``Practice of Parliament'' by Mr. Malhotra. The members who levelled the allegation should have sufficient material to support and the Chair must be satisfied with the issue raised.

Earlier, Mr. Kharge quoted the ruling given by the then Speaker (H. S. Rudrappa) on June 30, 1952, upholding the objections raised by the then Chief Minister, Kengal Hanumanthaiya. The member, who had levelled the allegation of misconduct against an official, was B. Rachaiah. However, the Opposition members had their full say on the matter before the ruling came.

Participating in the discussion on the demands for grants of various departments, the Janata Dal(U) member, Mr. K. B. Mallikarjun, said that contractors from various parts of the State had thronged the Legislators' Home seeking the help of the members in getting the Line of Credit for their contracts released.

He flaunted a paper to say that an accounts officer in the office of the Chief Engineer, minor irrigation, Bangalore, was insisting on the contractors to get a recommendation from a legislator. Mr. Mallikarjun alleged that the officer was forcing the contractors to part with a three per cent cut in the amount mentioned in every Line of Credit. The officer had held the post for the last one decade.

Mr. Jayaprakash Hegde (independent) said that he had heard similar complaints in Dakshina Kannada District.

The Cooperation Minister, Mr. D. K. Shivakumar, wanted to know if the members had any document to prove their charges. The Speaker said that the members should have evidence. However, Mr. B. Somashekar (Janata Dal-U) argued that the members need not adduce evidence while levelling allegations against officials. Moreover, Mr. Mallikarjun had not mentioned the name of the official. Mr. Somashekhar said it was in the public interest that the members were exposing corruption on the part of government officials. It would help in purifying the administration. Mr. Jayaprakash Hegde said that the allegation was specific.

The Home Minister said that though the Speaker had the discretion, the rules were against allowing the members raising incriminatory matters without serving a notice. Mr. Suresh Kumar (BJP) reminded Mr. Kharge about the allegations he was levelling when he was the Leader of the Opposition. He should not take cover under the rules of procedure and shield the corrupt.

The Minister of State for Medium Irrigation, Mr. Kumar Bangarappa, asked them to name the official involved. Mr. Kharge said the Opposition could not expect him to speak as if he was the Leader of the Opposition. The Government had no intention to shield anyone.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : CM reviews road-widening works near Charminar
Next     : Chandrasekhar: A saga of original contributions