Amend sedition law; Abolish AFSPA: Justice Saldanha

June 14, 2011

Mangalore, June 14: The Karnataka Chapter of Transparency International India (TII) demanded drastic amendments to the sedition law, abolition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and urged legal stability to divorces granted to Christians as per canon law.



Addressing the media persons here on Tuesday, Justice MF Saldanha, Chairman of TII Karnataka chapter said that if the sedition law is not changed, many more people would be targeted by the state machinery.


He said sedition law and AFSPA are heavily being misused by the government. The authorities have pursued sedition charges against activists, despite a long-standing Supreme Court ruling that prosecution under the sedition law requires incitement to violence, he said, adding that these laws give protection to wrong doers.


He said AFSPA has been used widely to violate fundamental rights for 50 years mainly in Jammu Kashmir and North-East states. Terming the Act as retrograde he said India has adequate laws to deal with serious problems such as insurgency, and application of AFSPA if necessary should be selectively done and for short period of time.


Cannon Law Vs Civil Law



In a letter to the City Police Commissioner Mr Saldanha has raised the issue of police inaction in the case of Godwin D'Souza, who is being harassed by his first wife.


Godwin D'Souza, a resident of Kulshekhar was married to Shanthi D Souza on August 22, 1999 at Cordel Church, Kulshekhar and the marriage was dissolved by the Ecclesiastical Court (canon law). The decree of nullity was passed by the same court in September 19, 2002 which held that the earlier marriage no longer presents obstacles for entering into a new and valid marriage in the Catholic Church for the both parties.


Based on this cancellation of the church, Godwin got remarried in the same church in 2003 by the same priest. Godwin has two children from his second marriage.



Godwin and his family came to know after 10 years of annulment, that Godwin's first wife Shanti has filed a private complaint with the Chief Judicial Magistrate under Section 200 of the Criminal Procedure Code for various offences punishable under law including section 494 of IPC which deals with bigamy.

Saldanha alleged that this was an extortion attempt by Shanthi because she has threatened Mr Godwin and his father repeatedly and asked them to pay a sum of Rs 60 lakh or else his family will be ruined.

Saldanha said although two FIRs have been registered in Mangalore Rural police station, no action has been taken.


He also urged the Police Commissioner to reconsider the case in the light of legal position.


Activists PB D'Sa, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, Kabeer Ullal, Brigadier C D'Souza, Godwin D'Souza and others were present at the press meet.

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News Network
May 9,2020

Bengaluru, May 9: With 41 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Saturday, the total number of positive cases in Karnataka has reached 794, said the state Health Department.

Out of the total number, 386 are discharged and 30 patients have passed away. The total number of active cases now in Karnataka is 377.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases across the country is 59,662, including 39,834 active cases.

Till now, 17,846 patients have been cured and discharged and 1,981 deaths have been recorded in the country, as per the data provided by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

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Media Release
July 31,2020

Mangaluru, July 31: Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has unveiled a campaign both on digital media and outdoor billboards on bringing awareness on the right usage of masks, social distancing and hand washing in the fight against COVID19. The campaign has received very good response and attention on social media and with the citizens of Mangaluru.

While the numbers of Covid-19 infected people were increasing and a vaccine would take some more time it was observed that norms of social distancing and other precautionary practices were thrown to the wind. Many people in Dakshina Kannada were found using masks inappropriately. Wearing a mask in a scientific way by covering both the nose and mouth is imperative to control droplets that spread the virus. We need to rise above our inconvenience to fight the virus.

Considering this the KCCI found an immediate need to bring awareness and constant reminder to people on the right usage of masks, social distancing, washing hands and other dos and don’ts to stay ahead of the virus and beat the pandemic.

A digital campaign and an outdoor advertisement campaign were planned by the chamber to remind and encourage people to follow best practices when interacting with others. 

The theme of the Campaign was decided to be “Let’s Fight Back Together” Origin Designext a Creative Agency in Mangalore was roped in to do the creative for the campaign and a team from KCCI worked with the Agency to shape up the campaign with their inputs. In the meantime Indian Red Cross Society Dakshina Kannada and Rotary Mangaluru expressed their interest to support the Campaign. 

Mangaluru based outdoor agencies like Jyothi Advertisers, Kalkura Advertisers and Gee Dee Advertisers agreed to provide outdoor space gratis to this community service campaign. Presented both in English and Kannada, the campaign has been creating waves on social media and on the street, a sign that it is being very well received by the populace of Mangalore city. 

The creative of Half Covered or Half exposed where a model is shown with a mask that exposes the nose and KA-19 v/s COVID-19 (KA-19 being the Vehicle Registration Code for the District) have been particularly making a buzz in the community. All together 14 hoardings are currently on display with various Covid-19 awareness messages. Many business houses have shown interest to participate in this public awareness campaign.

The Chamber hopes this campaign would go a long way in the fight of the city against COVID-19 and play its role in putting the pandemic behind us. “Businesses and our economy has suffered enough, we need to work together to fight this virus, we need to rise above minor inconvenience and win this war,” says Isaac Vas the President to KCCI.

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News Network
April 8,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 8: Karnataka government has decided to postpone its first mass marriage ('Saptapadi') scheduled for April 26 due to lockdown in force, Minister for Muzrai, Port and Fisheries Kota Srinivas Poojary said here on Tuesday.

Talking to media here, he said that the first phase is likely to be clubbed with the second phase to be held on May 24. However, it all depends upon the situation prevailing at that time.

The state government had proposed to conduct the mass marriage scheme at select Muzrai temples in two phases on April 26 and May 24. Around 2000 applications with due documents were received for mass marriage from those who wished to tie the nuptial knot.

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