Stating that Government is on the verge of losing its properties worth about ₹800 crore to ₹1,000 crore due to appeals not filed by Government advocates on time, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy on Tuesday said that efforts are being made to bring the advocate appointments in urban local bodies (ULBs), boards and corporation under the Government purview.
“It is painful to note that the appeals in courts were not filed in specified time and government properties to a tune of ₹800 to ₹ 1,000 crore is now threatened to go out of Government’s hand,” the Minister informed Legislative Council during a discussion initiated by BJP Chief Whip Y.A. Narayanswamy, who said inefficiency and corruption has led to loss of public properties in BBMP and BDA.
He said that boards and corporations, including BBMP, had been appointing advocates according to their whims and fancies. “There are no guidelines currently. Now I want to bring them under the purview of the government and an amendment to the Act is in the offing with retrospective measures. We want ULBs to hire advocates on retainer or as advisors or form a panel based on guidelines,” he said.
