BENGALURU: The high court summoned the minorities welfare department principal secretary on November 12 in connection with a PIL seeking immediate tabling of a special report on ‘misuse of Wakf properties and illegal disposal and encroachment in Bidar and other districts of Karnataka’ .
“A final opportunity was granted to the government to file its statement of objections, but it is yet to be done. This court is now left with no other choice except to direct the principal secretary’s personal appearance on the next date of hearing. In case the statement of objections is filed on or before the next hearing date, his appearance will be exempted,” a bench comprising acting chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum observed. The PIL filed by former minister SK Kantha claims though the report authored by Anwar Manippady, then chairperson of Karnataka State Minorities Commission, was submitted to the government on March 26, 2012, it has still not been tabled in the legislature and no action has been taken as well.
According to the petitioner, since some persons named in the report continue to be members of the legislature and occupy key positions in Karnataka Wakf Board, they could influence investigation at all stages.
