BANGALORE: After years of disputes, the High Court on Monday ordered the government to wind up Mysore Lamp Works Ltd.
Justice Ram Mohan Reddy gave the order while disposing of a petition filed by Mysore Lamp Staff and Employees’ Union challenging the closure order of the state government and the reference made by Board of Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).
The dispute dates back to January 4, 2002, when the government issued an order closing the company. Around 1,600 workers were on its rolls then. The closure order was given after recommendations by BIFR and Appellate Authority for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (AAIFR), as the company had incurred losses of nearly `90 crore from 1993 to 2002.
However, Mysore Lamp Staff and Employees’ Union challenged the closure order before the High Court in a writ petition.
Green Bench to Hear Revival of River Basin
The High Court on Monday referred the issue of the revival of the Arkavathy and Kumudavathy river basin and Tippagondanahalli (TG halli) reservoir to the green bench.
The court transferred the case after a government advocate submitted that the state has withdrawn a notification, issued in 2003, prohibiting construction and non-agricultural activities within a one-kilometre radius of the reservoir.
The advocate said the government withdrew the notification on July 24, in view of the area receiving low rainfall, channels leading to the TG Halli reservoir being obstructed and developments in the area.
However, the counsel stated that no non-agricultural activities will be allowed in the catchment areas till further notification.
Hearing the contentions, Justice L Narayanaswamy observed, “The government takes proactive steps to evict farmers to reclaim its land; but when there are encroachments in catchment areas, the government has withdrawn the notification guarding the rivers and the reservoir”.
Commissioner Assures Action Against Quacks
Bangalore: City police Commissioner M N Reddi on Monday assured the High Court that action would be taken against ‘fake’ doctors here. While hearing a petition filed by one Dr B N Vadiraj, alleging that three quacks were operating in Bailhongal village in Doddballapur taluk, the court asked Reddy and the principal secretary to appear before it.