Bengaluru: A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed on Wednesday, February 19, against minister Anand Singh in the Karnataka High Court, demanding that a stay be imposed on assigning the portfolio of the forest, environment and ecology department to him.
It can be recalled that outrage was sparked after it was announced that newly-elected MLA Anand Singh would be given the forest ministry as he is a mining baron and already had 15 cases against him.
Members of the Opposition criticised Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for assigning the forest ministry to Anand Singh.
Advocate Vijay Kumar, who filed the PIL, said that Anand Singh was assigned the portfolio by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa without even looking into his criminal cases which the ministry had filed against him.
As per the PIL, a stay was requestd on Anand Singh’s functioning as Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology.
“Any other order that the Honourable Court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity,” read the PIL.
It further stated that Singh being given the ministry was against the ‘public interest’. It also read that if he was given the ministry, it would be a conflict of interest as he would have access to the case files against him.
“It is pertinent and absolutely necessary to deny the incumbent from accessing files related to his cases and from taking any decisions which may provide him with pecuniary benefits through his businesses,” It added.
It can be recalled that earlier, when the whole issue had turned into a debate between the ruling BJP government and the Opposition, Anand Singh had said that he was ready to give up the post if CM BSY requests him to do so.
