HC stops jaunt of 290 legislators

BANGALORE: Chief Justice N K Jain and Justice V G Sabahit of the Karnataka High Court on Monday issued directions restraining legislators from going abroad on a "study tour" approved by Chief Minister S M Krishna.
The direction was issued on a writ petition filed by B. Krishna Bhat of Bangalore challenging the proposed Asian jaunt of 290 legislators.
The petitioner contended that he relied on a newspaper report published in an English daily on December 29, 2002 under the caption "CM Krishna clears the Asian jaunt of legislators" stating legislators could undertake a tour of Asian countries at the state’s expense.
On February 6, the court had ordered issuance of notices to the government. When the petition was taken up on Monday, the court was informed that a batch of 29 legislators had left on tour under the impunged scheme. Legislature Secretary T. Rajanna, however, told reporters that no legislators had gone on any government-sponsored jaunt so far.
"There is only a proposal,which has to be cleared both by the cabinet and by the Legislative Assembly." Rajanna said the state legislature has not received any notice from the HC on the PIL filed.
The petitioner said the government had cancelled the grand Dasara procession as it was facing a financial crunch due to the drought situation and contractors bills totalling to Rs 1,200 crore were to be paid. In such a situation, it was not right to send the legislators on a jaunt.