Latest news with #UpaLokayukta
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Upa Lokayukta takes suo motu action over neglect of ancient Srirama temple
BENGALURU: Taking suo motu cognisance of the dilapidated condition of the Srirama temple, a protected monument situated in Kudluru of Channapatna taluk in Bengaluru South district, Upa Lokayukta Justice K N Phaneendra registered a case against all the concerned authorities and sought an explanation for their inaction. Justice Phaneendra's action came after he took note of the sorry state of affairs of the temple after he visited it while he was on his way to check the rampant pollution and encroachment of lakes on July 7, along with Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru South District Yashavanth V Gurukar, other officials. Justice Phaneendra noted that this is one among the famous temples constructed on the bank of the river Kanva between the fourth and fifth centuries ago by the Ganga empire, and it was declared a protected monument on May 5, 1987. The compound of the wall and retaining wall on the right side of the stone pillar outside the temple are nearly collapsing, the stone wall in in the sanctum sanctorum is slipping, it also developed cracks inside the walls of the temple- all of these could led to a big disaster, if not paid attention to immediately, Justice Phaneendra noted. The Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Archaeological Department, Tarakesh, who was present, told Upa Lokayukta that the compound wall collapsed due to erosion of the bund of the river, which was exploited severely for sand mining. When enquired, Mohan, Executive Engineer (EE), CNNL, informed the Upa Lokayukta that the construction of the retaining wall will be taken up by them if the proposal comes from the state government. However, this monument has been neglected by the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, CNNL, Revenue Department, which amounts to 'Maladministration' under Section 2(10) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, he said. Therefore, in order to take action against them as well as remedial measures to protect the monument, he registered a suo motu case against officials Tarakesh, Mohan, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ali Khan, who is the Tahsildar of Muzrai Department, Bengaluru South District.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- The Hindu
Government official penalised for illegal land registration
The Upa Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh imposed a penalty of withholding of two annual grade increments without cumulative effect on a senior assistant at the office of the joint sub-registrar, Kurnool, for illegal land registration. Upa-Lokayukta P. Rajani took cognisance of a complaint by V. Muralidhara Reddy of Kurnool alleging irregular and illegal registration of government land in of B. Thandrapadu Revenue village of Kurnool Rural mandal. The complainant alleged that the land, which was part of the prohibited property under section 22A of the Registration Act, was unlawfully registered under multiple documents by M. Hajmijah, the senior assistant at the office of the joint sub-registrar, Kurnool. Following notices by the Upa Lokayukta, the Deputy Inspector General of Registration and Stamps Department, Kurnool, conducted an inquiry and submitted a report on January 20, 2025. Based on the report, the disciplinary authority concluded that the explanation given by the senior assistant was not convincing, following which a minor penalty of withholding two annual grade increments without cumulative effect, was imposed on Hajmijah under the Andhra Pradesh Civil Service (CC&A) Rules, 1991. The complainant, Mr. Muralidhar Reddy appeared on June 30, 2025 and expressed satisfaction with the action taken against Hajmijah, after which the complaint was closed. This case demonstrates the proactive and fair approach of the Upa Lokayukta in ensuring accountability and timely resolution of public complaints, an official statement said.
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PDO sent on compulsory retirement for accepting bribe in Karnataka
BENGALURU: Receiving a mere Rs 2,000 bribe for 'E-Swathu' has become costly for a Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) with the state government giving him compulsory retirement. Hanumanthappa Hanchinamane, PDO of Channepura Grama Panchayat in Channagiri taluk of Davanagere District, was trapped by the Lokayukta police while accepting the bribe of Rs 2,000 from the complainant Ranganatha BH, resident of Mavinakatte village, for the grant of 'E-Swathu' for the purchase of a site measuring 14x100 ft with a house from one Mangalabai. The state government entrusted the inquiry against him to Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa, under Rule 14(A) of the Karnataka Civil Service (Classification, Regulation and Appeal) Rules, 1957, on July 31, 2023. The Upa Lokayukta, on February 18, recommended the State government to give him compulsory retirement as he conducted himself unbecoming of a public servant as provided under Rule 3(1)(i), (ii) and (iii) of Karnataka Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1966. Accepting the recommendation, the State government issued a showcause notice to Hanchinamane on March 10. In reply, he denied the allegations, saying that the inquiry officer had not conducted the inquiry properly to examine the charges against him. While rejecting the explanation given by him, the government concluded that the charges of Hanchinamane conducting himself unbecoming of a public servant have been proved when looking into the inquiry report supported by the statements of witnesses.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- The Hindu
Upa Lokayukta Justice gets call from cyber fraudsters in possible extortion bid
The Central Division Cybercrime Police have registered a case against two unidentified cyber fraudsters, who posing as legal consultants from the Data Protection Board of India, allegedly tried to intimidate Upa Lokayukta Justice K.N. Phaneendra with a fake case, in what seemed to be a possible extortion bid. Based on the complaint filed by Justice Phaneendra, the police have charged the accused under sections 66 (D) (cheating by personation) and section 84 (C) (punishment for attempting to commit offences) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. According to the complaint, on Wednesday around 1 p.m., Justice Phaneendra said he received a call on his mobile and the person identified himself as Deepak Kumar Sharma, a senior legal consultant, and also introduced his accomplice Rahul Kumar Sharma, junior consultant from the Data Protection Board of India's Mumbai office. The accused told him that his Aadhar card had been linked to a phone number which had been used for illegal activities. Third such call Realising that it was a cyber fraud call, Justice Phaneendra asked them to give it in writing or send a legal notice so that he can take it up further. 'This is the third time I am receiving such a call and I know how to handle them,' Justice Phaneendra told The Hindu, adding that he reprimanded the accused and disconnected the call, even as they tried to continue the conversation by not only trying to intimidate him, but also offering to resolve the issue. He lodged the complaint with the phone number from which he received the call. The police have begun a probe. Rare case This is a rare instance where the police have registered an FIR in a cybercrime case, despite there being no loss of money to the complainant. It may be noted that the police do not often file FIRs in cases where there is no financial loss.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Upa Lokayukta to launch massive drive to plant 80k saplings in Karnataka's Tumakuru
BENGALURU: Continuing his mission to protect and enrich the environment, Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa will on Thursday launch a massive drive to plant 80,000 saplings in 300 acres of forest land in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru District The programme was reclaimed by the revenue department from encroachers and handed over to the forest department. After taking over as Upa Lokayukta in July 2024, Justice Veerappa was instrumental in planting 40,000 saplings, including 25,000 in Tumakuru, 10,000 in Kolar and 2,000 in Karighatta of Mandya district. The land at Chikkanayakanahalli was occupied by encroachers for decades and was restored as forest land. Despite a recommendation made by the then Upa Lokayukta Justice N Anand under Section 12(1) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act in 2019 on a complaint filed in 2015 by one Siddalingegowda, the land was not reclaimed by the state authorities for about six years. Taking up the matter after taking charge, Justice Veerappa warned of referring the matter to the governor for action, while summoning the officials concerned and fixing hearings back-to-back to take the issue to a logical end. The proceedings culminated with the revenue department reclaiming the land and making related entries in the revenue records on June 17, 2025, to show that this land belongs to the forest. 'I am launching the plantation drive to protect the land from unscrupulous persons and enrich nature further,' Justice Veerappa told TNIE.
