Date:27/11/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/11/27/stories/2003112703400500.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Upa-Lokayukta order on drawal from CGF set aside

By Our Special Correspondent

Hyderabad Nov. 26. The order issued by the Upa-Lokayukta on the former Endowments Commissioner and currently Director, Marketing, D.S. Murthy, relating to drawal of money from the Common Good Fund (CGF) by the department to meet the expenditure for printing diaries and calendars has received a setback with a Division Bench of the High Court invalidating the order.

The court issued its orders disposing of a petition filed by Mr. Murthy questioning several aspects of the Upa-Lokayukta order, including the powers of that institution in forwarding a report to the competent authority, the Chief Minister, about an IAS officer (himself) for action, even while stating that it had no jurisdiction over IAS officers. Mr. Murthy complained to the court against the "contradictory stands" taken by the Upa-Lokayukta.

The Bench, consisting of the Chief Justice, Devender Gupta, and Justice G. Roshni, held that the report forwarded by the Upa-Lokayukta "be not treated as having been forwarded" by him in exercise of any powers under provisions of the AP Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act of 1983. The judges also closed the petition.