SC lambasts Karnataka for quoting Rs. 15 lakhs as security expenses for Maudany

The Supreme Court today rebuked the Karnataka government in very strong words for quoting Rs. 15 lakhs as security expenses to be borne by Bangalore blasts accused Abdul Nasser Maudany for travelling to Kerala to attend his son’s wedding..A Bench of Justices SA Bobde and L Nageswara Rao took strong objection to the Karnataka government’s stance, stating that it would make it impossible for Maudany to travel and defeat the Court’s order..Maudany, who is lodged in Bangalore under the surveillance of the Karnataka State Police, had sought permission to attend his son’s wedding in Kerala..On July 31, the Supreme Court had granted permission to Maudany to attend the wedding from August 7 to August 14 with the condition that he bears the expenses for security personnel who will have to travel with him..The Court had also orally requested the Karnataka government to keep the expenses reasonable. Subsequently, the Karnataka government had come up with Rs. 15 lakhs as expenses for security personnel..This had prompted Maudany’s lawyers – advocates Prashant Bhushan and Haris Beeran – to mention the matter today before the Bench of Justices Bobde and Nageswara Rao..The Court, after taking note of the expenses quoted by Karnataka, remarked that the State government was trying to make it impossible for Maudany to travel..When the government’s lawyer, Joseph Aristotle, told the Court that the expenses are based on the emolument entitlement as per the latest pay scale of the police officers, the Court responded strongly by saying that Maudany was not the employer of the police personnel..The Court further said that security personnel can only be entitled to travel allowance and dearness allowance. The Bench also rebuked the Karnataka government for not implementing the order of the Court..“Is this how you carry out orders of this court?”, the Bench asked..The Court has now asked the State to submit a revised proposal tomorrow..The Court also turned down the proposal of Kerala government to provide escort to Maudany.