Date:08/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/08/stories/2006100811920400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

District administration to deal with Shoba Yatra

Special Correspondent

No violation of court orders will be allowed, says Minister

Cabinet cancels all appointments to boards, corporations

Six-member panel to be formed to make fresh appointments

BANGALORE: The State Cabinet on Saturday decided to leave the controversial issue of the Datta Jayanti celebrations at Bababudangiri in Chikmagalur district to the discretion of the district administration.

The Cabinet discussed the issue for more than two hours. Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Basavaraj S. Horatti, who briefed presspersons, refused divulge details about the discussions.

The Minister said no violation of the orders of the Karnataka High Court would be permitted, and law and order would be maintained. The State Government would not interfere in the matter and full powers had been given to the district administration to deal with the proposed Datta Mala and Shoba Yatra, he said.

Asked specifically whether the Government would permit the Shoba Yatra, which the Bharatiya Janata Party was insisting upon, Mr. Horatti said the district administration would take steps to see that the rituals were conducted in a peaceful manner in accordance with court orders.

The BJP and the Sangh Parivar outfits had held the Shoba Yatra and Datta Jayanti celebrations earlier. The Dharam Singh government banned the yatra in 2004 and 2005.

Appointments cancelled

The Cabinet decided to cancel all appointments made to boards and corporations. All nominations and appointments of members to boards and corporations made after the Janata Dal (S)-BJP government came to power in February 2006 stood cancelled with immediate effect, Mr. Horatti said.

The BJP had accused its coalition partner, the JD(S), of making the appointments without consulting it.

Mr. Horatti said a six-member committee, with three members each from the BJP and the JD (S), would be constituted to decide on fresh appointments. In BJP-dominated constituencies, 75 per cent of appointments would go to that party's nominees and 25 per cent to the JD(S). The same formula would apply in constituencies dominated by the JD(S), he said.

A decision was taken to allot 118 acres of land for the proposed government medical college in Shimoga.

For the effective functioning of the Justice A.J. Sadashiva Commission, which is looking into hooch tragedies in Nelamangala and Hassan, the Cabinet decided to provide 12 officials to the commission.