In-service ESI docs told to approach CAT over PG courses

The High Court on Thursday directed 21 in-service doctors working at the ESI Hospital, Rajajinagar, to approach the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) with regard to permission for pursuing postgraduation courses. 

Dismissing the petition filed by Dr Prathibha M and 20 others, Justice B V Nagarathna directed them to approach CAT as the court does not have the jurisdiction.
The petitioners had contended that they had written their postgraduate CET exams, had secured ranks and were to attend counselling to pursue their postgraduation courses.

They contended that the Director General of ESI in Delhi and the regional director in Bengaluru had declined permission, stating that they would be short-staffed if they permitted in-service doctors to go on leave to pursue postgraduation. However, their petition was dismissed, directing them to approach CAT.

Notice issued

The HC has ordered notice to the Registrar General, High Court of Karnataka, three district and sessions judges, editor and reporter of an English daily with regard to a petition filed by retired district and session judge Veeranna G Tigadi. 

The petitioner had contended that an inquiry had been conducted against him with regard to a case of sexual harassment. The subsequent committee report had not been furnished to him. Since a report was also published in an English daily, the petitioner has sought directions to remove the article from online editions and to provide details of the High Court judges who were part of the committee which held an inquiry against him. Justice H Billappa has ordered notices in the matter. 

Stay on probe

The HC has ordered notices to the respondents with regard to a criminal petition filed by Rupak Kumar Dutta, an IPS officer of Karnataka cadre and currently additional director, CBI, seeking directions from the court to stay the investigation against him by the Kumbalgodu police. 

Justice A N Venugopala Gowda also granted a 10-week stay on the investigation against him. Mallesh, a resident of Mysuru, had filed a private complaint against Dutta with the Lokayukta, stating that he had pursued his law degree while he was holding the office of the ADGP in the Lokayukta office, and had misused his office.

However, the complaint was not entertained as it cannot be tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Mallesh filed another complaint before the Second Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court in February this year. A judicial inquiry was ordered in March and the matter was referred to Kumbalgodu police.