Date:22/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/22/stories/2006072226570100.htm

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BMIC: State not to proceed with judicial probe

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: With the Supreme Court lambasting the Karnataka Government for trying to scuttle the Rs. 2,250-crore Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, the latter informed the court on Friday that the Justice B.C. Patel Commission of Inquiry will not proceed further with the probe into the project.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal and Justice C. K. Thakker said that in view of the undertaking given by M.L. Verma, senior counsel for the Karnataka Government, it was not necessary to stay the proceedings of the inquiry commission.

When the petition filed by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) challenging the appointment of the Commission was taken up, the Chief Justice referred to the remarks made by MLA Rajanna on July 4 in the Legislative Assembly casting aspersions on the integrity of the Supreme Court judges and said: "These types of statements against anybody, more so against the judiciary, are unfortunate."

Mr. Verma said the Speaker had expunged the remarks. The Chief Justice said: "The proceedings were telecast live. By the time they were expunged the damage had been done. Tell us when these remarks were expunged, after we took note of them or earlier.

Bangalore Special Correspondent reports:

Reacting to the development, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Friday that the commission of inquiry had only been stopped for the present. Once the Supreme Court disposed of the petition, it would begin its proceedings.