I am still with the Anna Team, insists Santosh Hegde

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar )

November 4, 2011

Mangalore, November 4: Justice Santosh N Hegde, the former Lokayukta, has brushed aside rumours of any differences with Anna Hazare and his core team, and insisted he was not able to attend the meetings due to time factor.

Reacting to a question, Justice Hegde, clarified that he was very much part of the Anna team. Mr. Hegde had failed to attend the meeting of the core committee of the India Against Corruption, amidst a wave of allegations against his colleagues Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal.

“I am very much part of the team. The only factor that is keeping me away from the routine meetings is time management,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, curtains came down on the Vigilance Awareness Week 2011 here in Mangalore, on Friday with the valedictory function organized by Department of Central Excise and Service tax Commissionerates at the Corporation Bank auditorium on Friday.

Delivering the valedictory speech Justice Hegde, said: “The three pillars of the statute - legislature, executive and judiciary - along with the unofficial fourth pillar media have been infested with the virus called 'greed over need'.

Pointing out the money allotted for the rural development projects by the government, he said, according to the CAG report crores of rupees released to the local self-government bodies do not reach the poor people and the rural India had been grossly left out.

He expressed regret that the local self-governance, an essential apparatus better administration and governance, had had not reached the grassroots level.

Corruption can be brought down in the country if the political interference in the civil services, especially in the in the matter of transfers, was controlled.

Chastising the citizenry for failing the nation, he said according to constitution citizens are supreme. “But people have forgotten that they are the chief executive officers.” He urged the people to 'boycott the corrupt' but quickly added that “it was a tough ask”.

“No one is interested in fighting corruption. In 2008 the Union Government passed 17 bills within minutes whereas it took 44 years to pass the Lokpal Bill for the parliament” he said.

He also exhorted the public servants to be the change that they want to see in the world.

The winners of the competitions conducted in connection with the Vigilance Awareness Week were felicitated at the ceremony. M V S Choudary, Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax, delivered introductory speech. The meeting was presided over by K C Gupta, Commissioner (Appeals).

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From malls to highways, Kannada signboards to be enforced in Dakshina Kannada

News Network

February 4,2026

Mangaluru: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats should make the use of Kannada on signboards mandatory while issuing trade licences to commercial establishments, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said. He also called for regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Presiding over the District Kannada Awareness Committee meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Darshan said the city corporation would be directed to ensure that shops operating in malls prominently display their names in Kannada. “All commercial establishments, including shops, companies, offices and hotels, must mandatorily display their names in Kannada on signboards,” he said.

The deputy commissioner added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be instructed to include Kannada on signboards along national highways. Banks, he said, would be directed through committee meetings to provide application forms in Kannada.

“Even if English-medium schools and colleges impart education in English, their signboards must display the institution’s name in Kannada. Steps will also be taken to ensure that private buses display place names in Kannada,” Darshan said.

During the meeting, committee members raised concerns over the closure of Kannada-medium schools in rural areas due to a shortage of teachers and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures. They also pointed out that several industries employ workers from other states while overlooking local candidates.

Members further demanded that nationalised banks provide deposit and withdrawal slips in Kannada. It was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice that the presence of staff without knowledge of Kannada in rural branches of nationalised banks is causing hardship to local customers.

Meanwhile, MP Srinath, president of the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, urged the district administration to allot land for the construction of a district Kannada Bhavana in Mangaluru.

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