K’taka govt gets court notice on ‘one nation, one digital platform’

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka has issued notice to the State government on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, challenging the non-implementation of the national e-vidhan application (NeVA) scheme. The State government went ahead with its own e-vidhan scheme instead. The PIL, filed by former MLC Ramesh Babu, was being heard by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice P B Varale.

The NeVA aims at promoting digitalisation to provide a platform for the functioning of both Houses of Parliament, Assemblies and councils. The Centre shares 60 per cent of the cost of the platform for the State which has a total outlay of Rs. 673.94 crore Karnataka decided to implement its own scheme at a cost of Rs 253 crore based on a report submitted by KEONICS.

The PIL says the State government is unnecessarily spending Rs.253 crore, when it could have availed itself of by merging the scheme with the Centre’s.

“The present PIL if filed seeking further steps in implementation of NeVA which is beneficial and safeguards Central portal with economic benefits to the implementing State in place of implementation of e-Vidhan scheme through KEONICS which entails substantial loss to the public exchequer as the provisioning of this scheme is to tune of Rs.254 crores,” according to the PIL.

The PIL seeks “implementation of NeVA scheme which entails substantial savings to the State exchequer and further keeps intact the integrity of this nation by acceding to the principle of ‘One Nation-One E-Platform’.” It further states that the State government agency KEONICS has identified a third party to implement the scheme without any competitive bidding.

On Tuesday, the High Court adjourned further hearing of the PIL after issuance of notice to the State.