‘Set your house in order’: K’taka HC to state over violation of physical distancing norms

coronavirus

Both the state and central government have been asked to clarify their position on how to legally implement physical distancing norms.

Soumya Chatterjee

Image for representation

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday observed that the state government is ‘playing’ with the lives of citizens and added that the state should not be this casual with regards to imposing COVID-19 safety guidelines. The remarks were passed by a bench led by Chief Justice AS Oka which was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Bengaluru-based organisation, Letzkit Foundation, over the violation of physical distancing norms in the state. Both the state and central government have been asked to clarify their position on how to legally implement physical distancing norms. “The writ petition was filed pointing out that the roadshows and other events are being held by politicians across political parties and that politicians are violating the lockdown norms. We have been asking what action the government is taking to prevent such incidents and also what action they will take once an incident is reported. Without naming any political party, we have submitted photographic evidence of such events and also of the recent funeral of an actor in south Bengaluru where there were multiple violations,” advocate Puttige Ramesh, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, told TNM. During the course of hearing, the court asked how the public can report these incidents to the authorities. “Is it only by dialling 100 and also the court asked if the state is taking any action against violators and under which legal provisions,” he added. He further said that standard operating procedures are issued regularly but there is no mention of under which provisions of this law the competent authority can take penal action. The petitioner’s lawyer said that the HC asked the state government to mention the specific law including sections under which an order is issued. He also said the state government is empowered to issue orders under the Disaster Management Act, it is not clarified if the subordinate officers of the state government can also issue such orders. In a reply to the court based on the SOPs that were issued, the counsel for the state replied that orders by the state police chief and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner were passed according to Section 24 of the State Disaster Management Act. The HC asked if the state government was allowed to delegate powers to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner or other state government officers. On the whole issue, the High Court took a critical view and asked the state government to "set its house in order.” Can State executive delegate such powers to the BBMP Commissioner? Bench asks. — Bar & Bench (@barandbench) June 16, 2020 Karnataka HC while hearing PIL regarding violation of social distancing norms, observes "State is playing with lives of people you cannot be so casual." — Mustafa Plumber (@plumbermushi) June 16, 2020 The case will be heard again on June 19. Letzkit Foundation had approached the HC seeking concrete measures to maintain physical distancing norms in wake of the relaxations allowed since the lifting of the lockdown. The petition noted that lack of penal provisions in the standard operating procedures issued by the national, state and local governments makes them ineffective. Other irregularities mentioned in the petition include that while directions limit the number of guests in marriages but there are no such restrictions put in place for places of worship.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2UKvDkk
via IFTTT

Karnataka to resume inter-state RTC bus services to Andhra Pradesh

Transport

The services will resume in a phased manner and in the first phase, buses will ply to popular destinations like Tirupati, Vijayawada and Mantralaya.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will resume inter-state buses to and from Andhra Pradesh from Wednesday, after a gap of nearly three months.  The services will resume in a phased manner and in the first phase, buses will operate to popular destinations like Tirupati, Vijayawada and Mantralaya. The buses start from Bengaluru, Ballari, Raichur and Shahpur in Karnataka.  In the first phase, services will operate to the following routes: > From Bengaluru to Anantapur, Hindupur, Kadri, Puttaparthi, Kalyandurg, Rayadurga, Kadapa, Proddatur, Mantralaya, Tirupati, Chittor, Madanapalli, Nellore and Vijayawada  > From Bellary to Vijayawada, Ananthapur, Kurnool and Mantralaya  > From Raichur to Mantralaya  > From Shahpur to Mantralaya and Kurnool  The buses plying from Wednesday will be non-AC (air condition) services and while 160 buses will run from Karnataka to different places in Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) will operate a same number of buses to destinations in Karnataka, including Bengaluru.  "The buses will be operated from both states and we will be evaluating the next phase based on the response from the public," a KSRTC official told TNM.  Passengers will be screened at boarding and alighting points in main bus stands.  "Passengers can book tickets in advance online on www.ksrtc.in or through KSRTC/Franchisee advance reservation counters," stated a KSRTC official. Currently, over 3,000 buses are plying within Karnataka while inter-state buses to neighbouring states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are yet to resume. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3fxoFav
via IFTTT

Karnataka Minister starts campaign to help non-Kannadiga residents learn Kannada

Language

The first lesson included 21 commonly spoken English sentences and their Kannada translations.

TNM Staff

In a move aimed at helping non-Kannadiga residents in Karnataka learn the state's widely spoken language, Kannada and Culture Minister CT Ravi started a campaign to post spoken Kannada lessons on social media starting Tuesday.  He said that as part of the campaign, spoken Kannada lessons will be posted every day on social media. "My team will be posting spoken Kannada lessons every day to help non-Kannadigas learn and use our beautiful language. I request you all to promote the initiative among your friends and help me reach more and more non-Kannadiga brothers and sisters living in Karnataka," CT Ravi posted on social media.  Namaskara all, I've taken up the task to teaching Kannada to all non-Kannadigas residing in Karnataka. They are in Karnataka and they are our people, so it's our responsibility to teach them our language. I'll need you'll help in this task. ಕಲಿಕನ್ನಡ | #KALIKANNADA pic.twitter.com/4BoxgzBrXh — C T Ravi ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) June 16, 2020 The first lesson included 21 commonly spoken English sentences and their Kannada translations. This included conversational sentences like 'Who are you?' (Neevu Yaaru) and 'Is she a doctor?' (Avaru daaktara?). Lesson 001#ಕಲಿಕನ್ನಡ | #KaliKannada RT with your friends, let's reach more & more non-Kannadiga brothers and sisters living in Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/XBaShLlWGs — C T Ravi ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) June 16, 2020 CT Ravi is also the state's Tourism Minister and he has previously said that a lack of pride in Kannada is one of the reasons for its waning relevance in the state.  His statements come months after Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa urged migrants in Karnataka to retain their roots and also learn Kannada. Read: Migrants in Karnataka should retain roots and learn Kannada: CM Yediyurappa Kannada is the most widely spoken (66%) language in Karnataka, but the states s also home to several other languages. According to the 2011 census, Urdu is spoken by 10.54 % of the population while Telugu (7.03%), Tamil (3.57%), Marathi (3.6%), Tulu (3.0%), Hindi (2.56%), Konkani (1.46%), Malayalam (1.33%) and Kodava Takk (0.3%) are also spoken in the state.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3hxMu3H
via IFTTT

Bengaluru traffic cop tests positive for coronavirus after his death

Coronavirus

This is the first instance of a person in uniform succumbing to COVID-19 in Karnataka since the onset of the pandemic.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image/PTI

A Bengaluru traffic police officer, who was posted at the VV Puram Traffic Police Station tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday following his death on June 14. Assistant Sub Inspector Shivanna was 59 and due for retirement in a few days. This is the first instance of a person in uniform succumbing to COVID-19 in Karnataka since the onset of the pandemic. “Assistant Sub Inspector Shivanna was on leave since June 12. He died on June 14 after having a heart attack. He was taken to a private hospital nearby where the doctor declared him dead,” A  senior police officer, on condition of anonymity, told TNM.   Shivanna’s body was shifted to KC General Hospital to confirm if he was suffering from COVID-19. On Monday at around 5:30 pm, the Bengaluru Police received news that Shivanna had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.  The officer also confirmed that another ASI in the same police station has also tested positive for the virus. The source of infection for both the cases is yet to be identified. Ravikanthe Gowda, Joint Commissioner Traffic Police (Bengaluru) confirmed the development. Sources further said that all primary and secondary contacts of the police officer would be quarantined. Currently, all 93 staff members attached to the VV Puram Traffic Police Station have been placed under home quarantine. The police station will be shut till Wednesday as it is being sanitised.  This development comes after the Central Crime Branch (CCB) office in Bengaluru was sealed on Friday after suspects, who were detained for questioning, tested positive for the coronavirus. Earlier last week the Shankarapuram Police Station was also sanitized after an officer working there tested positive.  As of Monday evening, Karnataka had 7,213  COVID-19 cases with an addition of 213 new cases reported on the day. Bengaluru saw an increase of 35 cases and the city till date has a total of 732 cases, which is much lesser compared to other big metropolitan cities in India.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3hzGhEa
via IFTTT

‘Shunned for being from Padarayanapura’: Bengaluru containment zone residents suffer

Stigma

Containment zone regulations have been in place for Bengaluru’s Padarayanapura for over two months.

Geetika Mantri

Padarayanapura. Photo by Prajwal Bhat

For two days now, Aslam, a resident of Padarayanapura in Bengaluru, has been trying to find work. It has been two months since he went to work at a garage where he was previously employed as a mechanic. “But everyone turns us away when we say we are from Padarayanapura,” he tells TNM. Padarayanapura ward was declared a containment zone on April 10. Now only a portion of Padarayanapura still remains a containment zone, and the entire ward is not sealed. While one might assume that these new relaxations will bring cheer to Padarayanapura residents, their troubles seem far from over. Apart from the stigma they suffer for being residents of a containment zone, the people are struggling for basic essentials, such as food. Read: ‘Neighbours instigated violence’: Cops, BBMP recall unrest in Bengaluru containment zone ‘How do we buy food without an income?’ When the entire ward was a containment zone, the residents were entirely dependent on social workers and the government for food. A volunteer with Swaraj Abhiyan, a socio-political wing of Swaraj India Party, tells TNM that the residents got ration from the BBMP a few times, but the supply of food has been erratic at best.  “50-60% of the people have got the ration, but not all. Once, Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed gave ration too. Swaraj Abhiyan has been helping with ration as well as cooked food,” the volunteer said. The same was corroborated by the residents that TNM spoke to. And for the last two days, while things appear to be relaxing for them, they still cannot simply go to a shop and buy food. “When we haven’t worked or had any income for over two months, how will we buy food?” says Tabrez, a 38-year-old resident of Padarayanapura. “People don’t have food to eat. Water comes once in two days at 3 pm. The landlords ask for rent. Electricity bills need to be paid. How will we pay if we have no money?” Tabrez adds, while stating that he too has been struggling to find work again since the last two days. Tabrez says that while food was being supplied as a part of relief work during the holy month of Ramzan, the ration kits they received have depleted. Khaleeullah, who works with Swaraj Abhiyan, says that out of the 5,000 houses, the organisation distributed ration kits to 2,000 homes and plan to give more. “Another issue now is that many NGOs have stopped giving ration kits as things are returning to normal in the city. But in Padarayanapura, people are not able to buy LPG cylinders even if it is being sold, because they don’t have the money,” he says. Aslam says that a few small shops have opened in Padarayanapura in the last two days, but hardly anyone can buy food. Residents couldn’t buy medicines Residents that TNM spoke to also say that there are several people living in Padarayanapura, who have health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. However, getting medicines on the day of the lockdown – despite movement being allowed for essential medication – was a nightmare. Maaz, an 18-year-old who lives with his family in Padarayanapura, says that although medical shops in the vicinity were open, he could not get the required medicines for his grandparents, who have BP issues, or for his mother, who has thyroid-related issues. “I was able to go last month with a bunch of people who had prescriptions and went near Vijayanagar to buy medicines. To be safe, I bought around a month’s dosage, but it’s about to get over,” he says. “In another incident, even a person from Padarayanapura seeking treatment was turned away from a hospital in Shivajinagar when he said that he was from Padarayanapura. So much stigma is there,” Tabrez adds. Maaz is also one of the volunteers who is planning to help Swaraj Abhiyan distribute ration kits in the area. The organisation is now trying to find volunteers among residents because, Khaleelullah says, people are quite afraid to come to the community for fear of contracting COVID-19. “The situation with food, medicines and basics has been really hard,” Maaz shares. “Once, I saw an old woman break down completely while volunteers were distributing food because she didn’t have any food.” Lack of trust When Padarayanapura was sealed off completely in April, its residents feared for their livelihoods. With the number of COVID-19 cases increasing in the area, heavy police personnel were deployed. On April 19, some residents vandalised CCTV cameras and destroyed the tables and chairs installed at a COVID-19 kiosk. None of the security personnel suffered any injuries.  Most residents of the area are blue collar workers. Lack of awareness regarding government’s guidelines and absence of communication with BBMP and others, had led them to be fearful of authorities. The growing tension between the police and people led to the violence, a fact-finding report by Swaraj Abhiyan said. The lack of adequate food had also rendered them helpless.  Read: No ration, miscommunication, led to fear in Padarayanapura: Fact finding report As news of the unrest in Padarayanapura was covered widely, local media dubbed its residents as ‘jihadis’. To add to the stigma, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai too had accused local leaders and residents of non-cooperation with government orders, giving the situation an air of conspiracy.  Some residents that TNM spoke to alleged that they were beaten up by the security personnel such as the Garuda force deployed in the ward during the lockdown, for stepping out for essentials. Though the TV cameras have moved away from Padarayanapura, the stigma remains.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2Y311wA
via IFTTT

Karnataka BJP sticks to old promises in recommending names for MLC elections

Politics

The party recommended Shankar, MTB Nagaraju, AH Vishwanath for Legislative Council polls.

TNM Staff

Following a state core committee meeting of BJP leaders on Monday, the party has recommended three leaders who joined the party last year —  R. Shankar, N. Nagaraju (MTB) and AH Vishwanath — for the upcoming Legislative Council polls.  The party has named the trio in a list sent to the central leadership, reported The Hindu.  Shankar did not contest the by-elections held in 2019 in Karnataka while MTB Nagaraj and AH Vishwanath both lost in their respective constituencies.  The trio were named in the list alongside former MLA Sunil Vallyapure who abided by the party's decision to field Avinash Jadhav, son of BJP MP Umesh Jadhav, for the bypolls from his constituency. The party has included the names of Sunil and the trio who joined the party last year in a shortlist with around a dozen names. Elections to seven legislative council seats will be held on June 29 and the last day for filing nominations is June 18.  With 117 MLAs, the ruling BJP can bag 4 of the 7 seats since each candidate needs 28 votes.  The BJP state unit suffered a jolt last week when the party's central leadership rejected the names recommended for nominations to Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka. Ignoring the recommendations for Prabhakar Kore, Ramesh Katti and Prakash Shetty, the party's central leadership instead opted for two unknown party workers, Eranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti, as its picks.  BJP insiders said that the decisions highlighted the differences between the party's state unit led by BS Yediyurappa and BL Santhosh, the party's national general secretary. On Monday, BJP's state unit did not formally announce the names of the candidates that will be recommended to the centre for the Legislative Council elections. Instead, Arvind Limbavali, BJP MLA and General Secretary told mediapersons that the final list will be released by the party's central unit. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3htZya9
via IFTTT

Case registered against Cong MLA for flouting COVID-19 norms in son's marriage

Politics

Ballari police said that a case was booked against Congress MLA Parameshwar Naik and his son after a large number of people attended the wedding, violating COVID-19 norms.

TNM Staff

Screenshot

COVID-19 precautions went for a toss at the wedding of a Karnataka Congress legislator's son in Ballari, where Health Minister B Sriramulu and many other politicians from both BJP and Congress were also spotted. "I have come across this. A large holding (wedding) was there. We have initiated action. A case has been registered," Ballari Superintendent of Police CK Baba said on Monday. Politicians who attended the wedding included former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, Priyank Kharge, G Parameshwara, BJP's Laxman Savadi and Prabhu Chauhan. According to police, a case was registered in Harapanahalli Taluk of Ballari against Parameshwar Naik and his son after a large number of people attended the marriage. Several people were also seen attending the wedding under a tent and sitting on chairs without maintaining physical distancing. Ballari Superintendent of Police, CK Baba said the case was being investigated and the event's visuals were available. According to the central government guidelines, only 50 people are allowed to attend weddings amid the pandemic. Health Minister Sriramulu also attended the wedding of Hadagali's Congress MLA Parmeshwar Naik's son' where COVID-19 norms were violated. Sriramulu was neither seen wearing a mask nor maintaining physical distance while being photographed on the stage with the newly-wed couple. This is not the first time Sriramulu has been spotted flouting COVID-19 rules of wearing masks and maintaining physical distance. Earlier this month, he was spotted without a mask at a large public procession in Chitradurga where he was welcomed with a massive garland. Read: K’taka Health Min Sriramulu takes part in large procession without mask, distancing Earlier in March, Sriramulu organised his daughter's wedding, a 9-day affair that ended in Bengaluru's Palace grounds with thousands of people attending, at a time a Hyderabad man residing in Bengaluru had tested positive for COVID-19. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2B9lbMk
via IFTTT