The High Court stayed the criminal proceedings initiated against Tourism Minister B Sriramulu and MLC G Janardhana Reddy by police and forest authorities of Bellary, on Tuesday.

Justice K Ramanna granted interim orders of stay for a period of four weeks, in three petitions filed by Sriramulu, Janardhan Reddy, and Ramachandra Reddy and some other directors and managers of Obalapuram Mining Company(OMC). They have sought the Court to quash the criminal cases lodged in connection with the activities of OMC, owned by Janardhan Reddy. Minister Sriramulu and Ramachandra Reddy are among the directors of the company.

The complaints have alleged them of moving the boundary stones on Karnataka forest borders for unlawful benefit of OMC. Forest authorities of Ananthapur Kuditini, Bellary Range have filed a complaint before Bellary JMFC on Aug 21, 2007 against Janardhana Reddy and six others, while Cowl Bazaar police have registered a complaint against Sriramulu and Ramachandra Reddy. Sriramulu is also facing a complaint lodged by Deputy Conservator of Forests P Rajashekaran before Toranagallu police, alleging Sriramulu of threatening him.

Their counsel Basava Prabhu Patil contended before the Court that the complaints were concocted and were filed with an intention to spoil Reddy and Sriramulu’s public image. It was a clear instance of abuse of process of law, he contended while alleging that DCF Rajashekharan was known for misuse of powers.
The Court granted interim stay while directing concerned forest and police authorities to file their statements of objections.

Tobacco ban
The High Court on Tuesday stayed the operation and implementation of a Central Government amendment prohibiting use of tobacco and nicotine in any food products.

The order followed a writ petition by Kolhapur-based Ghodawat Industries (India) Pvt Ltd and Pune-based Dhariwal Industries carrying out manufacture, supply and distribution of Pan Masala and Ghutka.
The companies impugned Union Health Ministry’s notification of Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) (7th Amendment) Rules 2006 on Aug 21, 2006 and a connected corrigendum issued on July 31, 2007. The amendment notification had newly inserted Rule 44J prohibiting use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products.

The companies stated that the prohibition had an effect of banning Ghutka, which is tobacco-mixed Pan Masala. The amendment is a colourable exercise of powers and is ultra vires the PFA Act since tobacco products are governed by Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003, they contended.
Justice Ajit J Gunjal, who considered the companies’ interlocutory application seeking stay, passed an interim order staying the operation of the amendment notification, while ordering notices to Union and State Ministries of Health.

PIL admitted
The High Court on Tuesday admitted a PIL challenging the validity of revised market value guidelines notified by the Chairman and Commissioner of Stamps Central Valuation Committee.

The petition by a city resident, Dr Arunachalam, impugned the notification issued on April 17, 2007 which he said, had enhanced the guidance value for properties in Bangalore Urban district by more than four times of that existed. The hike is arbitrary and with an intention to extort money from general public, the petitioner alleged while seeking a direction for framing fresh guidelines in consonance with the minimum market values fixed by BDA, and during land acquisition proceedings.