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Karnataka's new speaker can make fresh call on disqualified MLAs: Solicitor General tells SC

Agencies
October 25, 2019

Bengaluru, Oct 25: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, in New Delhi on Thursday, told the Supreme Court that new Karnataka Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri had no difficulty in hearing aggrieved MLAs and taking a fresh call.

"We have no difficulty in hearing them all (disqualified MLAs) and take a fresh call," Mehta told a Bench of Justices N.V. Ramana, Sanjiv Khanna and Krishna Murari. Mehta was representing the office of the Speaker.

The top court was hearing the plea of 17 Karnataka MLAs, challenging their disqualification.

In July, then Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar disqualified them, rejecting resignations tendered by them. Those MLAs had remained absent from the House on July 23 when former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy put the confidence motion to vote.

The disqualified legislators had moved the top court, challenging the Speaker's action saying it was in gross violation of the apex court orders, and illegal and unconstitutional.

Under the scheme of the Constitution, a lawmaker had a right to resign and the Speaker should accept that, Mehta submitted. "Under the scheme of the Constitution, as I have read, a legislator has the right to resign. Except the contingency provided in Article 190(3), there is no room for resignation being rejected," Mehta said.

Article 190(3) of the Constitution envisages that the Speaker or the Chairman of the legislature has to only ascertain whether the resignation of a lawmaker is voluntary and genuine, and if not, he will not accept such resignations.

Appearing for the disqualified MLAs, senior advocate V. Giri told the Bench that the order passed by the then Speaker couldn't be interfered with on procedural irregularities but it could be interfered with on the ground of violation of natural justice. 

Senior Advocate Giri also questioned the hurry to decide the disqualification petition.

Appearing for Kumaraswamy, senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan said the resignation was a privilege granted to MLAs subject to the Speaker's call.

Stressing that defection is the biggest evil in elections, Dhavan said could the Speaker ignore material before him, which made it obvious that something was wrong with the resignations. 

Rajeev Dhavan also raised the issue related to absence of disqualified MLAs from party meetings and their presence in hotels hobnobbing with BJP leaders.

Arguments will continue on Friday.

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News Network
July 15,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 15: Karnataka Congress Chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday urged the Ministers in the state to visit Covid-19 designated hospitals and instil confidence among patients, doctors and medical staff there.

Noting that doctors, nurses and others were doing a great job, Shivakumar said the government has to stand with them and instil confidence in them. Speaking to reporters after visiting Victoria hospital, a major dedicated Covid hospital in the city, he said, "All the Ministers have to go to hospitals and instil confidence in the staff, patients.... they have to remove fear and tell them we will have to live with this (virus), and cannot escape from it."

Shivakumar said he believes that by instilling confidence most part of the diseases can be cured. He lauded doctors, paramedical and other staff working at the Hospital for the sake of patients, putting their own life at risk and appreciated facilities provided there.

During the visit, the state Congress President interacted with patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19, also medical staff and doctors. He said at Victoria hospital patients were allowed to use mobile phones, so that they can speak to family members, which has to an extent instilled confidence among them, and the same has to be replicated across the state.

Not wishing to comment on complaints about the quality of facility and PPE kits provided at the hospital, also alleged misappropriation on part of the government in the purchase of equipment for Covid treatment, Shivakumar said, "....let's see that at Vidhana Soudha (seat of state's legislature)." He said, "this is not the time to talk about corruption and other things, this is not the time for it....instilling confidence among patients, doctors and paramedical staff is important now."

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News Network
March 29,2020

Kasaragod, Mar 29: The ban imposed by Karnataka in crossing state borders to Mangalore even for medical emergencies had cost a life here late on Friday.

According to sources, the ambulance carrying a 70-year-old woman for critical care treatment to Mangalore was blocked at Thalapadi border on Kasaragod-Mangalore National Highway on Friday evening.

A pregnant lady had to deliver in an ambulance recently as the police denied permission to cross over to Mangalore.

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News Network
January 29,2020

Jan 29: Karnataka Tourism Minister, CT Ravi came up in support of BJP leader Anurag Thakur, and made a controversial statement in the process.

Ravi recently took to Twitter to express his views on Thakur facing probe for allegedly making provocative statements. In his tweet, Ravi said that "anti-nationals should get bullet not biryani".

"Those attacking Union MoS @ianuragthakur for his statement against traitors are the ones who - opposed death to terrorirts Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon, supported tukde tukde gang, spread lies against CAA. Anti-nationals should get bullet not biryani," Ravi tweeted.

Earlier, Thakur had allegedly made slogans like "Desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maaro saalo ko (shoot the traitors)" multiple times during a public meeting in Delhi. He had also faced a show-cause notice from the Electon Commission, asking a response from him on January 30.

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