Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE BLANK KHATHA CERTIFICATE! BBMP RR NAGAR ZONE- 1, KENGERI ARO OFFICE THE DULY SIGNED BLANK KHATHA FOR PROPERTY REGISTRATION

Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE BLANK KHATHA CERTIFICATE!          

BBMP RR NAGAR ZONE- 1, KENGERI ARO OFFICE THE DULY SIGNED BLANK KHATHA FOR PROPERTY REGISTRATION

The Kengeri ARO office in BBMP’s RR Nagar Zone is undoubtedly No.1 in BBMP for having the highest number of fraudsters who masquerade as officials. A Group of four officials which includes case workers Lingaraju, Madhu, Revenue Inspector Shivanna and ARO Puttanna (now retired) have excelled in the art of creating bogus BBMP records. During the regime of K.M.Ramachandran as the Joint Commissioner, the Group of four had played havoc by creating bogus records to hundreds of revenue sites and lands. Even now the ‘racket’ is still being continued.... 

Just take a look at the ‘blank’ Khatha certificate duly signed and stamped by K.S.Puttanna who was the ARO of Kengeri Sub Zone. Well, with the blank Khatha certificate duly signed by the official, you can register any property under RR Nagar zone in your name. No joke, but you can even register the BBMP of RR Nagar itself in your name! 

 Puttanna has retired few months back. But even now, one can get such ‘blank’ khatha certificates, ‘blank’ extracts and duly signed certificates in the custody of case workers Lingaraju, Madhu and Revenue Inspector Shivanna. It is to be recalled that fearing that his fraud may put him into trouble, Shivanna had taken transfer to Herohalli Sub Zone. 

 Very recently, the Revenue Officer in RR Nagar Zone Chandrashekar seized a brand ‘new’ duplicate Property Register from Madhu, the case worker. The register was full of bogus entries and there is no chance of detecting whether the register is original or bogus one. Even though the property ledgers and other connected original records should be in the personal custody of the ARO, even today, one can allegedly see that the registers are with the case workers and sometimes with Revenue Inspectors. This has given enough room for these officials to make bogus entries to revenue sites, revenue lands and even government lands for the areas which were brought under BBMP. The revenue records of villages and CMC areas too were handed over to BBMP. 

 The case workers makes entries in the Village Property Register and on the basis of such bogus entries, they make the entries in BBMP Register and later issue khathas. While lakhs of revenue site owners are waiting for regularisation of their properties under the yet to be cleared Akrama-Sakrama, for people who own revenue properties in Kengeri Sub Zone, it is very easy. Just pay the alleged ‘demand’ between 50 thousand to few lakhs depending on the size, and the fraudsters will do the rest and provide ‘pucca’ BBMP records. 

 Puttanna, the ARO is an easy man and as he is not of demanding nature. Allegedly, they pay him few hundreds and pocket the thousands. Puttanna had come into serious trouble earlier and was even suspended. At one point of time, he was allegedly made to sign the khathas for revenue sites in Sachindanagar coming under ARO (RR Nagar Sub Zone) even though there is an ARO for RR Nagar! Even after his retirement, few months back the fraudsters are using Puttanna to sign blank certificates without even the date, so that they can fill the certificate and ante date it. The blank khatha certificate (See box) is just the tip of the ice berg. In fact, Madhu, the case worker for Kengeri ward has allegedly ‘maintained’ a parallel property Register also. In one case, Madhu had given bogus entries to 30 acres of land in Halagenadevahalli and huge apartments are coming up. In Kodipalya, he had given more than 40 entries. Shivanna had provided entries to more than 200 revenue properties in Vajrahalli. Lingaraju is a law unto himself. 

 For the entire illegal racket, they use the services of Puttanna to sign the blank registers and certificates as ARO and stamping it. Recently, the Revenue Officer Chandrashekhar has caught hold of a bogus register maintained by Madhu, which has explosive facts. But the Group of three (excluding Puttanna) allegedly have managed to manage the RO in not taking further action. Already the free site scam is being investigated by the BMTF in which Shivanna was the architect. 

 No doubt, the Group of three has a good nexus. Puttanna who is retired will have to face the music as most of the thousands of bogus entries were certified by him as ARO. Interestingly, this Group has a couple of people who work as collection agents. Because of the fear of Lokayukta raid, they do not take money during office hours and these ‘agents’ collect the money and keep it with them till they go home. 

 Shockingly, in the recent event of the RO seizing the bogus register from Mahdu, no action was initiated in this regard. It is allegedly said that Madhu had paid to manage the RO. Needless to say that there are payments to the DC and JC too. 

 It is time; the BMTF should have a “look” at the Kengeri ARO office and the frauds by the Group of four. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE SBM STAMP PAPER SCAM- 1 THE SHOCKING WHITE COLLAR SCAM BY BANK & REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT!

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE SBM STAMP PAPER SCAM-1 

THE SHOCKING WHITE COLLAR SCAM BY BANK & REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT!

Most of us are shocked and frustrated over the Kareem Telgi Stamp Paper scam and consider it a black spot on the Registration Department. But, you will be more astonished over this SBM Stamp paper scam which we bring to you in series and details. We call it a white collar scam because; this has been done in the broad day-light under the very noses of the ‘babus’ with the connivance of the relevant Banks. This would bow the heads in shame for the failure of introducing an effective and a fool-proof alternative system of revenue collection despite the Government having several efficient administrative officers in its corridor. Indeed, the Kareem Telgi Scam appears quite small compared to the scam our elected authorities have operated. There are multiple blunders accrued in this scam and most importantly it is by our own authorized officials, who are liable for safeguarding the public treasury. Here it is unfolded in detail for you. 

With the exposure of Kareem Telgi stamp paper scam, the Government decided to do away with the Stamp Papers with effect from 01/04/2003. While this was a prelude to abolition of the Stamp Papers legally, and the law legislated by the state waited for the Presidential assent. As an immediate alternative, the State Government made arrangements with the State Bank of Mysore (SBM) for payment of Stamp Duty through its branches and its subsidiaries in the state. It issued notifications that henceforth State Bank of Mysore is authorized to collect Stamp Duty on behalf of the State Government. But what happened then, is astonishing. 

The Beginning- 

The Kareem Telgi fake Stamp Paper scam was out and the citizens watched the manipulation of public money in horror. The Karnataka State Government panicked and issued notifications saying that it has banned the sale of Stamp Paper from 01/04/2003. Instead, it implemented various temporary alternatives to select the best feasible one as a solution. 

 THE 1st BLUNDER- NO WRITTEN AGREEMENT 

 As a measure, it authorized and informed the State Bank of Mysore (SBM) to collect the Stamp duty from 01/05/2003 on behalf of the Government. It sent a proposal to bank to issue pre-printed D/Ds of various denominations from Rs.5/= up to Rs. 10,00,000/-. Instead, the Bank on this proposal letter Dt:26-03-2003, started printing of Stamp papers in various denominations. However, extremely shocking is the fact that there was no written agreement for printing of denomination wise Stamp papers.(SBM calls it as document sheets) 

The SBM from 01/04/2003 itself had started printing its own denomination wise stamp papers through private printing presses and named it as Document Sheets. And the State Government never entered into an agreement with the Bank. (Note by District Registrar dated 21/02/2004, Point 2-b). 

According to point number 2-b in the Note issued by the District Registrar on date 21/02/2004, it says “ It is further confounding that the Department has no written agreement with any Bank and it is suggested that we should impose our authority on SBM under a written agreement”. See document-1 

An RTI reply by the IGR & CS dated 16/01/2007 in response to enquiring about the Agreement/ MoU with the Bank also states that ‘No such MoU has been executed’. See document-2 

This clearly states that the Government has no written agreement with the Bank with regard to authorizing the SBM to print denomination wise Stamp papers on behalf of the State Government. 

On the contrary, the SBM quotes letter No: STP: 99:02-03 dated 26.03.2003 as an appropriate Government authorization for printing and selling of the Stamp Papers/Document Sheets as often as possible in its reply to the RTI inquiry. But the truth is that the above quoted letter is a mere proposal given to the SBM by the IGR & CS for the issue of pre-printed receipts and not at all for printing their own stamp papers/ document sheets and selling them. The same is even mentioned in the letter itself. It is not an authorization at all. This point has been established, clarified and endorsed from time to time by the supervisory bodies such as the IGR & CS, the Revenue Secretary, the District Registrar, the Lokayukta, etc., See document-3 

Absence of the written Permission/Order/Authorization 

 1. The District Registrar (DUS) in his letter dated 21.02.2004 had written to the IGR & CS expressing his apprehension about the issue of printing and selling of stamp papers by the SBM and calling it as ‘a blatant illegal activity’, 

 2. In reply to an RTI inquiry, the IGR & CS in his letter No: RTI/Aud/13.06.07 dated 16.01.2007 clearly said that no such MoU has been executed for printing and sale of SBM stamp papers and 

3. Finally, the “The Chief Public Information Officer (CPIO) of SBM also clarified that the work relating to sale of printing of document sheets based on the aforesaid letter of the IGR & CS vide their No: STP:99:02-03 dated 26.03.2003, which is the Government Order/Permission. And there is no other order”. 

 All these above clearly show that there was No written Permission/ Authorization/Order at all. Yet, the SBM had been printing and selling the stamp papers since 2003, which could be surmised as a blatant illegal activity, which could attract severe legal action under the Stamp Act of India. To be continued…….

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE WAR OF WATER! CAUVERY WATER DISPUTE, IS KARNATAKA A WATER VALVE FOR TN?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

 
The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

THE WAR OF WATER! 

CAUVERY WATER DISPUTE, IS KARNATAKA A WATER VALVE FOR TN? 

 The Cauvery water issue has raised its ugly head again with the Tamil Nadu demanding 2 TMC of water daily for a month. With the reservoirs in Karnataka almost half empty, there is no water to be released to TN which has sufficient water in Mettur to sustain the present crop. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is the Chairman of the Cauvery River Authority, had ordered release of 9000 cusecs of water from KRS to TN for political compulsions. The TN, as usual, has approached the Supreme Court which helped in receiving water from Karnataka. 

Ever since the nineteenth century, Karnataka is at the receiving end as far as Cauvery water is concerned. In 1924, the then British government imposed a Treaty on the state on water sharing with Tamil Nadu. In fact, it cannot be called a treaty but a sort of ‘conditions’ to the then Maharaja of Mysore who was under the control of “The Madras Government” and Madras was directly ruled by the British. 

 The so called 1924 Treaty expired in 1974 and since then the TN has not allowed fresh treaty or agreement. Instead at every occasion, it approaches the Supreme Court and gets favourable orders. Besides, the regional parties of TN - DMK or AIADMK are good influence as they have shared power at the centre with the ruling party. 

 V.P.Singh, the then Prime Minister, on the directions of the Supreme Court, constituted the Cauvery Water Tribunal to decide the issue and fix the water share. The Tribunal issued an interim order in 1991 directing the state to release 205 TMC of Cauvery water to TN every year and also fixed a weekly time table for water release. But, what if there is no water in the State reservoirs? The Tribunal directed the state to compensate by releasing ‘arrears’ of water in the next weeks! And what if the state releases excess water? The tribunal simply said “it is not its concern”! 

 The rest is history. The Tribunal gave its final verdict which is most favourable to the TN. As long as there is sufficient rain and water, there were no problems. Only when the rain fails and there was no water in KRS, trouble would begin with TN claiming its share of water release even if it meant no water to our farmers and even for drinking! The Tribunal had provided some relief during failure of rain through a ‘distress’ formula to be decided by the CRA that is Cauvery River Authority Chaired by the PM. But this is more of a political committee. 

 The Tribunal has also restricted the area of irrigation in the state and also the crop pattern. But, while our state farmers can grow one crop a year, the TN has no restriction and grows three crops a year. Further, it receives good rains during October to December for its Samba Crop! While Karnataka has been restricted in continuing with the present area of irrigated land, the same does not apply to TN which has increased its irrigated lands many times in the last twenty years. The TN has people at strategic places in New Delhi who assist in safeguarding their interests. 

 For the Cauvery dispute, we are stuck up with the famous advocates for too long, despite knowing that they have not presented the state case effectively in the Tribunal and the Supreme Court. It may be recalled that it was on the advice of state’s counsel Nariman that the State was forced to release 5 TMC of water to TN when the KRS was at the rock bottom level. JH Patel was the CM then. 

 It is only this time; the state has shown the guts to walk out from the CRA meeting chaired by the PM where he ordered the state to release 9000 cusecs of water daily to TN till October 15th. Politically speaking, the PM needs the support of DMK for the survival of the UPA government which would fall otherwise. That is why the water release order was obvious. But, the KRS water reservoir is actually very low and has less than 25 TMC of water. 

 Now, the TN has already approached the Supreme Court again for direction to the state to release water to TN. It may be recalled that the SC had earlier ordered release of 9000 cusecs of water ever day till September 19th and the CRA was to decide the matter on 19th. And CRA under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister had directed the state to release 9000 TMC water everyday till October 15th, for which the state has refused. The TN wants 2 TMC of water every day which comes to 60 TMC of water monthly! Can this be humanly or even divinely possible? 

 In fact, the SC had initially refused to hear the TN application on priority and asked it to mention it the next day. But, the next day, the TN counsel mentioned the petition and the SC not only readily agreed to hear the petition but also passed the order directing the state to release 9000 cusecs every day to TN till October 15th as ordered by the CRA. It castigated the state for defying the order of the Prime Minister. The SC had also taken to task the TN for demanding 2TMC water every day, which it said was unreasonable in the present situation. Then the state had to release 9000 cusecs of water every day, whether it likes or not. 

 Curiously, when the SC took up the TN application on priority, none of the senior counsels of the state were present except a junior lawyer. The leader of the lawyers team F.S.Nariman had ‘advised’ the state to release the water to TN immediately if he has to appear for the state in future. The state has already released water to TN thrice in the past when there was no water, on the advice of Nariman. The protests, agitations, bundhs etc. does not do any good and that is a hard reality. It is only legal battle that can undo the damage. 

 Whatsoever, Cauvery takes birth in Karnataka and flows in majority of areas in the state and it is barred from using the water. It has to release water to TN, whether it has sufficient water or not. To put in simply, Karnataka has been used by the TN and the central government to function as a ‘Valve man’ for TN as far as Cauvery is concerned! 

That is all!

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE WHITE CORRUPTION! Rangaram Nayak takes corruption payment through cheques!

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

 
The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

THE WHITE CORRUPTION! 

 

Rangaram Nayak takes corruption payment through cheques! 

 In our earlier issue, we had exposed about the caste manipulation of Rangaram Nayak. He is the In charge Joint Director in Mysore Zone of the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (formerly Karnataka Land Army Corporation). Rangaram, who belonged to the ‘Parivar’ caste, a backward tribe, got the job in KLAC in 1984. His service records show him as belonging to Backward Tribe, but later this was rounded off and an entry was made showing him as belonging to ST by stating that he belonged to Nayak Caste. The CRE Cell which probed the matter reported that Rangaram had obtained bogus ST certificate. The Tahsildar cancelled the bogus ST certificate in 2009 and within six months; the same Tahsildar restored his bogus ST Certificate after holding a stage managed probe. Based on this ST Tag given by Tahsildar, Rangaram has now staked his claim to the regular JD and consequential benefits including seniority. 

 Nevertheless, besides, acquiring the post on the basis of a bogus ST certificate, Rangaram Nayak is most forward in his corruption tactics. He might be the only official in KRIDL to practice ‘Black and White’ corruption. So bold he is that he is accepting money through cheques in his account. Just like our ex CM Yedurappa, who floated the companies in the name of his kith and kin to receive the bribe money as contributions in these companies. 

 Allegedly, every AD has to pay percentage kickback to Rangaram either through cash or through Bank remittance. For technical approval, the officials have to pay his commission depending on the amount of the work. The ADs have to personally meet him to pay the money and take the technical sanction order. If the ADs does not have the money at the moment or unable to come personally, Rangaram gives them the option of remitting the same to his personal SB account in SBH, Bamboo Bazar Branch Mysore or Corporation Bank, Siddharthnagar Branch, Mysore in a/c No.9728 and his wife’s a/c No.9729. Rangaram has allegedly fixed his commission at Rs.1.50 per kg for releasing steel. 

 The ADs who make payments to Rangaram through his Bank account has to send the copy of the payment challan to him. This practice is going on since many years and is still continuing. For example, the Kadur AD has remitted 10 thousand to Rangaram’s a/c on 24.02.2012 and Mangalore AD has remitted 15 thousand on 03.03.2012. 

 If the KRIDL or the Lokayukta probes the Bank transactions of Rangaram’s SB account, the cat will be out of the bag 

Rangaram Nayak’s Cheque Corruption 

The following are few cases of ADs remitting the kickbacks to Rangaram through cheques. Mind it, this is only the tip of the iceberg. These are only indicative but not exhaustive. Few examples in 2008 and the latest two examples are given below. One can only imagine the ground reality. 

Sl. Officials Name Amount Date No. Debitted 

 1. Abdul Rahim, 24,000 29.11.2008 AD, Kadur 11,000 29.11.2008 

2. K.P.Rajanna AD, Hassan 5,050 30.12.2008 

3. Rajesh TFC, Chikmagalur25,000 27.1.2009 

4. Javaraju FDA, Kadur 7,500 3.2.2009 

5. Chandrashekar AD, Mangalore 10,000 19.2.2009 

6. Thippa Reddy TFC, Chikmagalu 10,000 3.3.2009 

7. M.H.Govindappa TFC, Kadur 8,000 5.3.2009 

8. A.D.Kadur 15,000 4.4.2009

 9. AD Chikmagalur 20,000 4.4.2009 

10. AD Chikmagalur 27,000 4.4.2009 

11. Chandrashekhar AD, Mangalore 24,000 21.5.2009 

12. Mallappa AD, Mercara 10,000 28.5.2009 

13. AD, Kadur 10,000 24.2.2012 

14. AD, Mangalore 15,000 3.3.2012 

Now this is an open white corruption, is it not? Any comments???

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter DODGING THE RTI! THE SECRET TO DEFEAT THE RTI, THE KPSC STYLE…

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

 
The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

DODGING THE RTI! 

 THE SECRET TO DEFEAT THE RTI, THE KPSC STYLE… 

 Here is the sweet news for the government departments, statutory bodies, corporations and boards to defeat the very purpose and basics principles of Right to Information Act. They could very well follow the footprints of KPSC in dealing with ‘inconvenient’ RTI applications and applicants. The modus operandi of the KPSC is very simple. Just black list the RTI applicant! The unprecedented action of KPSC in blacklisting a RTI applicant, way back in 2008, has now surfaced. The KPSC had blacklisted its former employee Suresh Jain who had asked scores of inconvenient and embarrassing questions under RTI. If this action is taken to its logical conclusion, then there is no need for RTI Act and Information Commission.... 

 Suresh Jain, a steno in KPSC was compulsorily retired by the KPSC few years back on flimsy grounds. The so called grave offences by him was asking the office Time piece to be set correctly, requesting stocking of the library books on various Acts, rules etc. M.N.Gururaja Rao, an Assistant in the Establishment Section had a running feud with Suresh Jain because Suresh Jain had questioned some of his actions. It is to be recalled that Gururaj was very close to the successive Chairmen and members, that is why Gururaj allegedly managed to get an enquiry initiated against Suresh Jain for petty matters. Wonder of wonders, the enquiry into these petty issues were conducted through Registrar of Enquiries in the Lokayukta. At the maximum, even if the charges were thoroughly probed and proved, the maximum penalty would have been ‘censure’ to Suresh Jain. It is during this time, the scam in KPSC were exposed by the media, like answer script scams, DE scams etc. Gururaj allegedly poisoned the minds of the KPSC Chairman and members blaming Suresh Jain behind the exposures. Therefore, when the Lokayukta Registrar submitted enquiry report stating that the charges (petty of course) were proved, Suresh Jain was given the severe penalty of compulsory retirement. However, Suresh Jain challenged his compulsory retirement in the KAT and it is pending since more than a decade. If one were to take a glance at the charges leveled against Suresh Jain, one will definitely laugh at them. 

 This is the background of Suresh Jain. True, there are very serious criminals in the KPSC who have succeeded in hushing up their criminal offences and getting promotions after promotions. It is true that Suresh Jain had made attempts to appeal to the KPSC to repeal the penalty. But Gururaj, who has become more powerful, has scuttled even such attempts. 

 Whatsoever, after the RTI Act came into force, Suresh Jain started filing RTI application concerning the various omissions and commissions in the KPSC. He wanted to prove that while he was compulsorily retired for a petty offence, there are scores of officials in KPSC who have committed heinous offences, most of which are criminal in nature. Moreover, RTI is also aimed at getting the grievances redressed. There was nothing wrong in Suresh Jain filing applications after applications; some were embarrassing for the authorities. 

 In 2007, the KPSC tried to prevent Suresh Jain in asking questions under RTI. The then Secretary had asked him to withdraw all his RTI applications convincing him to put up his appeal to the KPSC Chairman H.N.Krishna who was retiring in a few days. As directed, Suresh Jain gave the required letter, but he did not know that it was a trap. Once he signed the application regarding withdrawal of all RTI application, his appeal was simply not considered. 

Feeling betrayed, Suresh Jain continued with his RTI applications. One can imagine the way Suresh Jain was harassed and victimised by Gururaj and the KPSC by the incident regarding the issue of absolute sale deed of the KPSC Housing Society, owned by Gururaj. While in service Suresh Jain was allotted a site by the society and he had paid the sital amount. Gururaj had refused to register the sale deed in Suresh Jain’s favour even years after the Lease Deed. Suresh Jain had applied for information about the society under RTI. When he was in need of money, he wanted to sell the site and he could not do so in the absence of sale deed. 

 Moreover, allegedly, there is an unwritten rule by Gururaj that stipulates that a member selling the site should pay 20% of the sale consideration to the society that is Gururaj, without receipt! Gururaj to curtail Suresh Jain’s RTI applications, demanded that he withdrew all the RTI applications and resign from the membership of the society if he wanted sale deed and also to avoid 20% sale consideration if he sells the site to others. Finding no alternative, Suresh Jain had to withdraw the applications! In fact, Suresh Jain who was forced to withdraw RTI applications on the directions of the KPSC Secretary in 2007 simply withdrew his letter after he realised that he was taken for a ride. He then examined his applications. In one case, Suresh Jain filed an appeal with the Information Commission, after the KPSC dodged to provide information. He was denied the right to inspect the records under RTI. 

 Unfortunately, HN Krishna, the KPSC Chairman who was prejudiced against Suresh Jain became the Information Commissioner after retirement from KPSC. In fact, the constitution does not permit the Members or Chairman of Public Service Commissions to occupy any office of profit, after their retirement from the Commission. But HN Krishna, had lobbied hard and HD Kumaraswamy, the then CM had appointed him as the Information Commissioner! Everybody knows that HN Krishna is facing criminal cases for all his scams in KPSC and even was sent to jail. His vulgar behaviour with government officials in his capacity as Information Commissioner is also well known. He was asked to resign as the Information Commissioner after he was sent to jail. 

 Naturally, Suresh Jain’s appeal was purposely placed before HN Krishna and as is expected, Krishna dismissed the appeal. HN Krishna never heard Suresh Jain’s version. Finally, Suresh Jain made an application to the Chief Information Commissioner that his appeal be heard by another Bench. The CIC had heard the appeal and directed the KPSC to provide the details sought by Suresh Jain. 

 In the meanwhile, Gururaj had advised the present Chairman Gonal Bheemappa to do the unthinkable to prevent Suresh Jain from applying RTI. In an unprecedented move, the KPSC held the meeting with the full attendance of the Chairman and all the Honourable Members of the Commission. In the meeting, it was decided to ‘blacklist’ Suresh Jain and not to entertain any of his RTI applications. The Commission had also decided to communicate the decision to the CIC and other Information Commissioners! Interestingly, the KPSC submitted this resolution to the CIC during the hearing of the appeal, but, the CIC ignored this and directed the KPSC to provide the information sought by Suresh Jain under RTI. However, the KPSC was adamant. It challenged the CIC orders in the High Court and the HC had dismissed the Writ by upholding the CIC orders. The KPSC had filed an appeal in the High Court before the Division Bench and obtained a stay against the single judge’s order. We cannot further discuss the possible decision of the HC Division Bench as it will be subjudiced to discuss it. What does this mean? If the other government departments, Boards, Corporations, statutory authorities follow KPSC and go on blacklisting the RTI applications, the entire foundation of the RTI Act collapses. 

In fact, there is no provision in the RTI act to blacklist any applicant. There is a provision to deny the information only Under Section 8 of the RTI Act. There is absolutely no other way to deny the information except Under Section 8. 

 If the ‘blacklist’ of applicants is taken to the logical end, the relevance of the Information Commission and the RTI Act itself becomes irrelevant. This is a test case for the RTI activists to bring sanctity to the Act. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE UNNECESSARY CELEBRATION! DOES SHIFTING OF IGR OFFICE NEED A POMP CEREMONY?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

 
The Bangalore Metro Reporter

 

THE UNNECESSARY CELEBRATION!       

DOES SHIFTING OF IGR OFFICE NEED A POMP CEREMONY?

The other day, the office of the Inspector General of Registration was shifted from Shimsha Bhavan in Jayanagar 8th Block to the Kandaya Bhavan. The ‘House Warming’ of the office was conducted amidst much fanfare and splendour. The Sub Registrars were made to donate about 8 to 10 thousand towards the function. There is no reason whatsoever for opening of the new office of a government department with pomp, especially when the state is reeling under severe drought. It is up to the Revenue Minister and Dy. CM K.S.Eswarappa to explain this.... 

 As is usual, the IGR office has been shifted for the second time in five years. In 1996, the IGR office which was functioning in Survey Building in KR Circle was forced to shift the office to the Cauvery Bhavan. In 2007 again the office was shifted to Shimsha Bhavan in Jayanagar. Now the office has again been shifted to the newly constructed Kandaya Bhavan. So, there is nothing to be celebrated for the shifting of the IGR office to the Kandaya Bhavan. 

 But the IGR Dr. V.Chandrashekar had thought otherwise. He wanted to celebrate the ‘shifting’ on a grand scale to tom tam the achievement! The government pays money towards shifting and transportation of the office. Normally, whenever a government office is shifted or relocated, the concerned department issues a press statement indicating the new address. Except ‘doing’ puja in the new premises, there is nothing grandeur or euphorial over the new premises. 

 But the IGR Chandrashekar would have nothing of it. He planned a grand gala inauguration ceremony as if it is the inauguration of a mega project by the government. He directed all the top officials and Sub Registrars to ‘donate’ for the function. In fact, Chandrashekar did not even choose an auspicious date but opted for the 14th because of availability of the Deputy CM K.S.Eswarappa, who is also the Revenue Minister. 

 Whatsoever, once Chandrashekar decided to hold the inauguration of the new office, then came the question of money needed for the function. The government pays for shifting of the office but definitely not for functions etc. So, Chandrashekar directed the Sub Registrar to donate for the function. He had fixed the ‘collection’ target to the District Registrars. The DRs were asked to pay Rs.80 thousand each, that is 4.80 lakhs. The DRs had to collect the same from the SRs in their jurisdictions. 

 In fact, to force the SRs to contribute more and to ensure the attendance of all the SRs to the function, a meeting was called in the IGR office on 13th and it is a shame that the SRs were asked to attend the meeting at 11 AM, that is when they are to attend to their official work in their offices. In addition to this, the IGR had distributed preparation works to the DIGRs, AIGRs, and DRs. 

Allegedly, the expenses of the function had not crossed one lakh. Still the collections are more than 4.5 lakhs. Then where did the remaining amount go? More than anything, where was the necessity for holding the ‘inauguration’ with pomp and splendor? There are all the chances of the IGR office being shifted to some other place in the near future. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter ALL ABOUT PPP! HARD ON CITIZENS, EASY FOR GOVERNMENT, THE PPP MODEL IS BECOMING A POLITICAL EXCUSE.

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

ALL ABOUT PPP! 

HARD ON CITIZENS, EASY FOR GOVERNMENT, THE PPP MODEL IS BECOMING A POLITICAL EXCUSE. 

 Since one decade everybody is chanting public private participation as the sole criterion for the development of the country. Fortunately, the PPP frenzy has not touched the governance of the country yet, and now, people are realising the danger of PPP. In our state the PPP has reached a ridiculous level ever since the then CM SM Krishna heralded the PPP regime. The words contracts/privatisations have been replaced by the word PPP and it has made private firms, contractors reap in billions. 

 In our state, the PPP has crossed all limits. The finest example is the BMIC project, also known as Nice Road Project which would reduce Bengaluru to Mysore distance by about 25 kms. The Nice Company which is executing the project has made thousands of crores, without constructing a single km of Express High Way Road for the last 16 years. All it has done is to build the Peripheral Road from Tumkur Road to Hosur Road, a distance of 35 kms. Even though BMIC road needed around 4000 acres of land, it was given 27,500 acres of land. The company is collecting lakhs of rupees every day on the Nice Road as Toll fees which are highest in the country. 

 Obviously, the powerful politicians are backing the NICE owner Ashok Kheni. In 2001, he had no money to pay the 10 crore deposit to the KIADB towards acquisition cost, let alone constructing the road. The government gave guarantee to raise Rs.150 crore loan from ICICI Bank and today, Ashok Kheni is one of Karnataka’s richest. As per the scheme, Kheni has to handover the road and other infrastructure to the government after 30 years. The agreement also stipulated that the toll can be collected only after completion of the BMIC Express Highway, but, he is collecting the toll from the last four years. 

 Another glaring PPP model introduced was the computerisation of the Registration process. The government had developed the Software ‘Kaveri’ and even though the registration department could have implemented the computerisation, the government entrusted the contract, nay, PPP to CMS and ECIL Companies. These companies had to install necessary infrastructure in the Sub Registrar offices like computer systems, scanners, printers etc and provide the operators too. The work involved scanning the documents, saving the scanned images in the CD and the hard disk. It consisted of taking the thumb and photos of the parties, making necessary entries in the document, generating the receipt and endorsement. All these would have costed not more than three rupees per page at that time including the salary of operation, but the government awarded the contract at Rs.30 per page. 

 The contract was for a period of five years after which they had to handover the infrastructure they created to the government and the department was to continue the same task thereafter. Instead the companies have managed to continue the contract by getting extensions after extensions. The five year contract has now entered its tenth year! 

 There are about 600 operators of the companies who few months back, stuck work demanding the government to absorb them in the department as regular employees. The government has no connection with them as they are employees of the contract companies, yet, they held the registration and public to ransom. Fortunately, the government has not yielded to their demand. 

The next PPP is the case of licensed Surveyors. To clear the huge pending survey work, the government has given license to hundreds of private surveyors. And to provide them good earnings, the government also obligated for survey sketches for registration of agricultural lands. The government has also fixed the fees to be charged by the licensed surveyors, but, they charge many times the stipulated fees and the public have no choice but to get the survey done by the licensed surveyors. 

 Last year the licensed surveyors were on indefinite strike demanding to be taken in the government service resulting in pending of thousands of survey works. Even if they are taken to the government service, there is no guarantee of the government getting sufficient number of candidates from SC/ST, OBCs etc. The government can only fill the vacancies through selection process which is a complex procedure. 

 The recent PPP which has put the government in dilemma is the 108 Health Services being implemented in the State. The company which bagged the contract is running ambulance services throughout the state and provides nurses and drivers to the same. Four month back, the drivers of the ‘108’ service went on an indefinite strike demanding better wages and government jobs. Arguably, the better wages and working conditions are the look out of the company. How could the drivers of this company be provided with government jobs? Their strike caused serious damage to the health services and there were reports of few deaths in the absence of timely medical assistance. 

 Few days back, the operators of Nemmadi Kendras too demanded to be absorbed by the government. The government after developing the Bhoomi Sortware, entered into an agreement (that is PPP) with a company to run the Nemmadi Kendras by deploying its operators. These operators used to provide IL, RR, RTC, Mutation and other revenue records to the land owners after collecting the prescribed fee. The company which obtained the contract committed many serious blunders and the government recently decided to terminate the contract and run the centers on its own. Now, the operators are demanding that they be given government jobs for their experience in providing revenue records to the public! 

 Arguably, the PPP has eaten into the veins of the government and administration. Even though the government has stopped recruitment and has opted for outsourcing, that is another name for PPP, the recruitment has come back through the backdoor, where some of the outsourced employees got regularised in the departments or institutions. This PPP is striking at the very root of the governance. 

 Today, the PPP is entering the vital fields like roads, ports and even Airports, which are crucial for the security of the country. In our state, the government is proposing to execute the major roads through PPP on the pretext that it has no money! This is only a lame excuse as the government can mobilise any amount of money. At the end of the road, it is the people who have to pay through their noses. And this is PPP for you, me and them. 

That is all.

Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE MYSTERIOUS YEDURAPPA! YEDURAPPA HITTING BOTH SIDES OF THE DRUMS. WHAT DOES HE REALLY WANT?

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

THE MYSTERIOUS YEDURAPPA! 

YEDURAPPA HITTING BOTH SIDES OF THE DRUMS. WHAT DOES HE REALLY WANT? 

Former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa is acting funny. He is blaming everybody from his own colleagues to the High Command to the opposition parties for his predicament, conveniently forgetting that he has himself to blame. Of late, he is claiming that he does not want CM post, and he does not want state BJP President Ship. At one point, he says that he will build the BJP and at the same time, he minces no words in stating that he will leave the party if his self respect is hurt. He wants Deputy CM KS Eshwarappa to resign from the post and concentrate on his state President post. Nobody can read and understand Yedurappa’s mind... 

B.S.Yeddyurappa is acting funny these days. At one time he says, he does not want CM post, and he also does not want state BJP President Ship. At one point, he says that he will build the BJP and at the same time says that he will leave the party if his self respect is hurt. The BJP high command might has decided that Yedurappa is incorrigible and seems to have let him do anything except leaving the BJP, lest he may dent the BJP votes in the state. 

 Ever since he was forced to resign; he has become a leader of lingayath community from a mass leader. For the first six months, he expected to be reinstated as the CM. Then, he fought for the removal of D.V.Sadananda Gowda, his personal choice from the CM post. Finally he succeeded in removing him and installing his favourite Jagadish Shettar as the CM. 

 But, he is still not satisfied. He wants to become the state BJP President so that he can play a dominant and decisive role in ticket distribution to become the CM again after election. But here too, the High Command is not obliging. 

 Of course, Yedurappa is allegedly remote controlling Jagadish Shettar who is doing everything to please him. He wants the gaddi back as CM or at the worst, the state BJP President ship. In fact, there is a large chunk of leaders in State BJP who have ganged up against Yedurappa who are leaving no stone unturned to show him, his place. This has added fuel to the fire and fierce Yedurappa further. 

 In the past few weeks, Yedurappa is casting aspersions on everybody. He is touring the state along with few of his loyalist ministers and during these so called ‘drought study’ tour cum public meetings, Yedurappa is targeting everybody for the present mess he is in. He is accusing everybody from the BJP leaders in the state to the High Command including LK Advani. 

 It may be recalled that few months back, Yedurappa had accused the State BJP President KS Eswarappa of sending him to jail. He had also accused BJP National Security Anantha Kumar, the then CM Sadananda and K.S.Eswarappa of conspiracy to remove him from the CM post and subsequent imprisonment. Given the desperation of Yedurappa, Anantha Kumar simply refused to react to his charges and Eshwarappa termed it as a blessing from Yedurappa. 

 Now, Yedurappa is commenting that he was removed from the CM post by his own party leaders, more than the opposition leaders. He has blamed the High Command leaders including LK Advani for his becoming ex-CM. The other day, he crossed the limits and targeted everybody except himself for his present situation. 

 It may be recalled that the allocation of portfolios has become the biggest problem to Jagadish Shettar. When Jagadish Shettar became the CM, there was an understanding about portfolios distribution among the Yedurappa and Sadananda groups. As all the heavy portfolios are with Yedurappa loyalists, the other group wants an equal share. But the reluctance of the Yedurappa loyalist ministers to part with their ‘money spinner’ portfolios have become the raging controversy. Jarakiholi, the leader of the rebel group has time and again demanded that the portfolio reallocation should be done immediately. 

 Now Yedurappa has demanded that his loyal cronies Renukacharya and Raju Gowda be given heavy portfolios if there happens to be reallocation of portfolios. Even though the reallocation of portfolios had to be completed within a week of Jagadish Shettar becoming the CM, it is already three months and the matter is yet to be decided. The other day, Yedurappa publicly asked State BJP President and Deputy CM K.S.Eswarappa to resign from the Dy. CM post so that he could concentrate on the President’s post, which he says, is crucial for the elections. One may not wonder if Yedurappa demands resignation of another Dy. CM R.Ashoka also. One cannot say with certainty what the future demands of Yedurappa would be. 

 No doubt, Yedurappa has conveniently forgotten that he himself is solely responsible for his predicament today. Who asked him to indulge in unimaginable corruption so much that the state acquired No.1 position in corruption? Who asked him to allow his family and relatives to interfere with the administration and deals? Who asked him to dishonour Lokayukta court’s summons which ended in his going to jail? Who asked him to condemn and criticise the then CM Sadananda even though he was providing a scam free administration? Who asked him to challenge JD(S) Boss H.D.Kumaraswamy to swear before Lord Manjunath of Dharmasthala over the charges he had made against Yedurappa? Who asked him to refrain from swearing before Lord Manjunath, at the last moment, getting ridiculed in the process? Even now, devotees believe that it was Lord Manjunath who brought Yedurappa down. 

 As on now, Yedurappa is acting as if he is still the CM, but, the hard reality is that Jagadish Shettar is the CM and enjoys power, privileges and perks of a CM. Yedurappa cannot enjoy the same even though he is getting VIP treatment by the government as he is always accompanied by few ministers. But he cannot digest the hard truth. The entire blame for his pitiable position should be laid at himself and nobody else. 

That is all.