Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Friday sought a detailed report on the spurt in farmer suicides in the last two months from the State Government.
Expressing concern over farmers’ death in a letter to Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukharjee, Vala sought a district-wise report on the increasing number of farmer suicides.
A raging debate over the issue in the ongoing Assembly Session has already put Siddaramaiah-led Congress Government in a spot as more than 60 farmers, especially in the sugar belt of Mandya and few other districts in the State, have taken to the extreme step in last one month.
The Chief Minister has agreed to make a part payment of Rs930 crores to pay the dues of sugarcane farmers.
It is learnt that the Governor has also written a letter seeking a status report on the number of officials against whom the lokayukta had sought sanction for prosecution and also the number of officials against whom the permission was given.
In his letter, Vala is said to have asked the Government to give reasons for not giving permission for the prosecution of some officers, despite repeated reminders from the lokayukta.
However, law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra said he was not aware of receiving any such letter. As many as 105 cases are pending before the Government seeking sanction for prosecution.
lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao, in his annual report submitted to the Governor recently, had raised the issue while seeking Vala’s intervention. The High Court had sought case-wise explanation from the State on the delay in according sanction for prosecution.
Meanwhile, protests continued by advocates and other organisations demanding the resignation of lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao following allegations of corruption against his son Ashwin.