BANGALORE: The State Cabinet on Friday gave the go-ahead for the construction of a building for the circuit Bench of the Karnataka High Court near Dharwad. Work will begin on July 10. The Cabinet sanctioned Rs. 66 crore for the building.

Briefing presspersons after the meeting, Law Minister Basavaraj S. Horatti said tenders had been invited for the construction work . The building would come up on the premises of the Water and Land Management Institute near Dharwad, he said.

Warning to officials

Mr. Horatti said the Cabinet decided to warn officials against providing or leaking confidential information to the media. Despite a law against it, some officials were leaking "secret information" to the media on policy matters, he said.

Only Ministers could provide information to the media on such matters. Disciplinary action would be taken against those officials who gave information to the media without the permission of the Minister concerned, Mr. Horatti said.

The Cabinet fixed a minimum support price of Rs. 525 a quintal for ragi, Rs. 540 for maize and Rs. 570 for ordinary rice and Rs. 600 for `A' grade rice in Raichur district.

A decision was taken to dismiss three government officials on charges of corruption, misuse of funds and dereliction of duty. They are H.G. Shekarappa, Soil Conservation Officer, Agricultural Department, Shimoga; H. Kempaiah, Principal, Government College, Kollegal; and B. Gopal Swamy, Employment Officer, Bangalore. A civil judge, Lingappa Patil, has also been dismissed on the recommendation of the High Court.

The Cabinet approved the release of Rs. 900 crore to the Social Welfare Department earmarked in the budget. The department's budget is Rs. 1,940 crore. Earlier, approval was given for Rs. 1040 crore.

A decision was been taken to regularise 1,738 unauthorised constructions in the Bellary City Corporation limits. The families concerned would have to pay betterment charges for regularisation of the constructions, Mr. Horatti said.

Cases withdrawn

The Cabinet decided to withdraw police cases pending since 2002-03 against farmers at Hirekerur in Haveri district in connection with an agitation.

It was also agreed to withdraw, in general, cases pending against farmers and students as and when the Cabinet received information on the cases and after considering their merits and demerits, Mr. Horatti said.

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