'Panchayats acting like super governments'

BENGALURU: Observing that village panchayats across the state are acting like 'super governments', the high court on Friday said the government needs to rein them in before the situation goes out of control. "These panchayats are issuing all kinds of licences though they don't have any power. You (the government) need to cap them by fixing their boundaries. This gramathana (sites) business is also extending like a rubber band. If you don't control it, then the government has to face serious problems," Justice Ram Mohan Reddy said. He was hearing a petition wherein the court had earlier directed the state to submit a report on procedures to curb mushrooming of illegal layouts within the BMRDA area. Nod for Sharif to deposit RS 66 crore The high court on Friday said it is open to former Union minister C K Jaffer Sharif and others depositing Rs 66 crore in Amanath Cooperative Bank (ACB). Sharif, who filed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the affairs of ACB, had indicated that he and others are ready to pump in to ensure that ACB stands on its feet rather than being merged with Canara Bank. -TOI