Top News Headlines 1st April 2021:Karnataka High Court Vacates Stay

Karnataka High Court Vacates Stay, Orders Thorough Investigation against Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa in 'Operation Kamala' case

Recently, in a setback to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, the Karnataka High Court vacated the stay granted on investigation and ordered a thorough probe to be conducted in the First Information Report in which he is accused of trying to woo JD(S) MLA Naganagouda Kandkur's son Sharanagouda with promise of money and Ministry in 2019 [Operation Kamala Case]

In the FIR, the uncontroverted allegations made and the contents of the complaint lodged by respondent No.2, prima facie disclose the commission of cognizable offences, the jurisdiction of this Court under section 482 Cr.P.C. and Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India cannot be exercised to quash the above complaint and the FIR registered against the petitioners. Consequently, the petitioners being not entitled for the main relief claimed in the petitions, the question of continuing the interim order may not arise at all.”, Justice John Michael Cunha stated in his order.

To Ban Online Gambling: Karnataka High Court to State

On Wednesday, the Karnataka High Court directed the state government to decide on a representation made to it seeking to ban all forms of online betting
The plea states that the State of Karnataka remains in a regulatory vacuum. The gullible and ignorant sections of society, particularly the youth, are falling prey to online gambling and betting in the midst of a pandemic situation.

In this petition it notes that because the State has no mechanism to monitor whether any online game or activity is a game of chance or involves skill. Furthermore stating that, "However, what holds good for the game in the offline mode may not be true for the online mode. The State has not bothered to create any monitoring mechanism to ascertain whether the online Rummy offered by various virtual gaming platforms.”

Re-Starting Mid-Day Meals For Eligible Students: Karnataka High Court to State to decide on

In his above mentioned case, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the State Government to take a decision on re-starting the mid-day meal scheme for eligible students, by April 8th. The HC stated that, "State Government has to take a decision to reintroduce midday meals from April 15, so long as schools from Class 6 to 10 are kept open and students are attending the classes physically. The State has to make a decision and the same shall be placed before the Court on or before April 8."

During the course of the hearing, the State Government informed the Court that for students of classes VI to X the government had decided to continue to provide food security allowance. It further said that in view of the second wave of Covid-19, it had been decided to continue providing the food security allowance in the form of food grains.

Promote Virtual System of Hearing Along With Physical Hearing: MP State Bar Council Requests Chief Justice

In this case, the State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh has written a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court requesting him to strengthen and promote Virtual System of Hearing along with Physical Hearing in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The letter narrates that Virtual hearings and e-filings have become the norm in both the Hon'ble Supreme Court as well as all the High Courts of the country and that slowly and gradually virtual hearings has been adopted as an intrinsic habit by the legal fraternity.
This letter has requested that the High Court must shift to a convenient virtual hearing platform like Webex Cisco, Zoom, etc. (Professional Versions), with a waiting facility/waiting room for the participating counsels. In support, citing the examples of the Delhi High Court, Gujarat High Court, Karnataka High Court, and Patna High Courts, the letter states that these HCs are operating successfully on platforms like Zoom, MS Teams, etc., the letter states. 

Madhya Pradesh Government Notifies 'The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2020

On Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh Government notified 'The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2020' which provides for a prison term of up to 10 years for anyone found guilty of using marriage to force someone to change their religion.

This Act states that, “No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person by use of misrepresentation, allurement, use of threat or force, undue influence, coercion, marriage or any fraudulent means nor shall any person abet or conspire such conversion” (Section 3). Punishment, if any person contravenes the provisions under Section 3 then that person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine (not less than rupees 25,000).

Bengaluru Blasts Case: Accused Abdul Nazir Maudany Moves Supreme Court Seeking Relaxation Of Bail Condition To Move To Kerala

In this case, an application has been filed before the top court by Maudany, Kerala-based PDP Chairman, seeking relaxation of the condition whereby he was directed to not leave the city of Bangalore. Pertaining to this, Maudany has sought relaxation to the extent that he be permitted to travel to his hometown in Kerala till pendency of trial.

He has sought such relaxation on the ground that the undertaking on the basis of which bail conditions survives have since lapsed and the trial has not been concluded even after 6 years. Maudany has argued that “progress of case before trial court is crawling at snail’s pace and was hampered on several occasions. The prosecution has miserably failed to adhere to schedule of trial which was also scuttled due to inability to bring witnesses in time.”