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Mumbai Court Update
EXPRESS NEWSLINE
Probe into Lok Ayukta's absence The governor of Maharashtra is considering ordering an inquiry into the prolonged illness and resultant absence from work of Lok Ayukta (Retired Justice) H N Kantharia, state advocate-general C J Sawant today told the Bombay High Court. Last week, the court had asked Sawant to inquire whether the governor's office was aware of the matter. The ruling came in the wake of a petition filed by Mohammed Yusuf Khatri, who urged Kantharia's removal. The petitioner said over 7,000 public interest complaints are pending in the Lok Ayukta's office since Kantharia suffered a paralytic stroke in August 1997. Also, the government's records show that Kantharia has proceeded on long leave. Khatri also alleged that Kantharia has signed false affidavits to gain three residential accommodations. The advocate general today said governor P C Alexander will take appropriate action after "being satisfied of the veracity of the allegations."Sena to be made respondent TheBombay High Court today ordered Forum For Justice president Madhav Deshpande to make the Shiv Sena a respondent party in its petition seeking to restrain the Sena's correspondence with the Election Commission. Deshpande had also asked the EC to stop Sena from using "bow and arrow" as its symbol. Chief Justice M B Shah and Rajan Kochar today ruled that it would first hear the Sena before deciding on the matter. The next hearing is slated for February 9. Deshpande's plea also urged the court to direct the EC to verify records submitted by the Sena and clarify whether the party had fulfilled all the requirements of section 29-A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951. He asked the court to direct the EC to file an affidavit before the court explaining the authority under which it had granted recognition to the Sena as a political party.Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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