Thursday, May 12 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (May 12, 2005) stayed the prosecution of the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, as directed by the high court on May 2.

The Karnataka High Court on May 3 had directed the Congress- Janata Dal- Secular (JD-S) Government to prosecute Chief Secretary K K Mishra and Under-Secretary M Shivalinga Swamy on charges of "perjury and withholding" documents in the Rs 2,250 crore Bangalore-Mysore Expressway Project.

The court also quashed the Government order constituting committees to review the project and probe irregularities in land allotment for the project by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE).

On the same day, the State Cabinet decided to stand by the chief secretary "whole-heartedly" and file an appeal against the Supreme Court's judgement concerning the two officials and on other issues in which the Government explanation on the project was not accepted by the apex court.