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The Karnataka High Court witnessed a heated legal battle as Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, accused the state government of blatant plagiarism in a crucial case involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Mehta asserted that the Advocate General's opinion on whether to prosecute Siddaramaiah in a MUDA (Bangalore Metropolitan Area Development Authority) case was not only adopted by the state Cabinet but also copied verbatim, including every comma and full stop. This claim, if proven true, raises serious concerns about the integrity of the decision-making process and the potential for undue influence in the case.
Mehta further detailed how the Advocate General's opinion was replicated word-for-word in the Chief Secretary's note and ultimately in the Chief Minister's reply to the Governor's show cause notice. This meticulous mirroring of content, from the original opinion to the final response, was deemed by Mehta as indicative of a blatant lack of independent thought and critical analysis. The fact that even the Chief Minister's response mirrored the Advocate General's opinion, without any attempt at independent analysis, suggests a possible attempt to influence the decision-making process and shield the former Chief Minister from potential legal consequences.
Adding a touch of irony to the situation, Mehta pointed out that Bangalore, being the IT capital of the country, has ample access to artificial intelligence (AI) tools that could have been used to paraphrase the copied content. His statement, though laced with humor, highlighted the absurdity of the situation. If the state government had access to such advanced technology, why was it not used to ensure the integrity and independence of the decision-making process? The reliance on simple copy-pasting instead of critical analysis is a stark indication of the lack of seriousness with which the case was handled. This case highlights the crucial importance of transparency and independent decision-making in legal matters, particularly those involving prominent public figures.