Farmers condemn Karnataka govt’s decision to allow rice mill owners to purchase paddy

Mangaluru, Apr 12: Swift and strict action by the District Administration has resulted in the district achieving ‘Clean’ week with no new cases of COVID-19 reported for the seventh day in a row.

Meanwhile, in a happy coincidence, the district’s only infant allegedly affected – a ten month old child – was totally cured and discharged from the hospital along with infant’s mother and grandmother who were considered to the primary contacts. They are never tested positive for the virus, it is reported. Health experts attributed this to their natural immunity.

The child is said to have contracted the infection during a family visit to Kasargod, which has turned in to a Covid-19 hot spot. The family which hails from Sajipanadu in Bantwal-taluk had been kept in isolation ever since the child had tested positive on March 25. The quarantine was extended to the entire village as a preventive measure and the District Administration undertook the responsibility to providing essential supplies.

Mangaluru, Feb 1: Rotary Club of Mangalore city team represented by Rtn. Dr. Ranjan Rao and Rtn. Sumith Rao duo bagged the 14th Annual prestigious Rotary Quiz Trophy by securing 380 points. The Rotary Club of Vijayanagar Mysore represented by  Rtn. H.M. Harish secured 370 points and was declared runners up.

Rotary Club of Mangaluru central as a part of Rotary movement awareness campaign conducted their 14th Annual “Dist. Level Inter Club Rotary Quiz”  contest on Friday 31.01.2020 at Hotel Ocean Pearl Hall, Mangaluru. The Quiz was based exclusively on Rotary related affairs, matters and issues.

Chamarajnagar City based Eminent Pediatrician and Rotary past Dist. Governor Rtn. Dr.R. Nagarajun  graced the occasion as Chief Guest, in is address he lauded the  invaluable contributions of Dr. Rai to the Rotary Movement and congratulated on his achievements.  Later he awarded the Rotary Glittering Trophy, Certificates and Cash prizes of R.3,000 to the Winners and Runners up and congratulated them on their unique achievements.

13 Teams from Mangaluru, Bykampady, Panamburu, Deralaktte, Puttur, Mysore, participated in this contest. Rtn. Dr. Devdas Rai was the Quiz Master and officiated the closely contested  quiz contest. Asst. Governor Zone-2  Rtn. Geethanand Pai was the guest of honour he released the weekly club news bulletin “Centor”. Club President Rtn. Dr. Jayaprakash Poonja presided over the function. Secretary Rtn. K.M. Hegde presented the monthly report. Rtn. Prakash Chandra proposed the vote of thanks.  The event was sponsored by Chairman and Managing Director of Athena Hospital Rtn. Raviraj Shettiyan and Eminent Chartered Accountant C.A. Nithin Shetty.

New Delhi, Feb 21: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the sedition case registered against a Karnataka school management for allegedly allowing students to stage an anti-CAA, anti-NRC drama that 'portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poor light'.

The petition seeks quashing of the FIR against the principal and other staff of the Shaheen School at Bidar who have been booked under sections 124-A (sedition) and 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code.

In the petition filed on Thursday, social activist Yogita Bhayana has also sought an apex court direction for a proper mechanism to deal with alleged government misuse of the sedition law.

Section 124A of the IPC says that "whoever brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards... the Government shall be punished with imprisonment for life...".

Bhayana, in the plea, has sought a direction to the Centre and the Karnataka government "to quash the FIR registered in connection of seditious charges against the school management, teacher and a widowed parent of a student for staging a play criticizing CAA, NRC, and NPR."

The petition claimed the police "also questioned students, and videos and screenshots of CCTV footage showing them speaking to the students were shared widely on social media, prompting criticism."

It further quoted the school principal, alleging that "on one occasion, police in uniform questioned students, with no child welfare officials present".

The plea said that the "proceedings were violative of Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty) of the Constitution and abuse of process of law."

"Issue an order directing the Centre to constitute a committee to scrutinise complaints under 124-A IPC and adhere to judgments by the apex court before registering the FIR under the section 124-A IPC," the petition said.

The drama was staged on January 21 by students of fourth, fifth and sixth standard.

The sedition case was filed based on a complaint from social worker Neelesh Rakshyal on January 26.

The complainant has alleged that the school authorities "used" the students to perform a drama where they "abused" Modi in the context of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.