HC directs State to permit three NTTF students for CET counselling

Hearing a petition by Vinod Veerashetty and 29 others seeking directions to allow them to participate in seat selection process, Justice Abdul Nazeer directed the Director, Technical Education Department  and Karnataka Examination Authority that three students Raghavendra Hugar, Raghavendra Chikorde and Alwin Dias be allowed to participate in the seat selection process. The petitioners had moved the High Court after the students of NTTF were denied participation stating that NTTF had no permission from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to conduct the course.

The petitioners submitted that they were not given applications to participate in the selection process. They further submitted that the denial of permission to participate in the seat selection process on grounds that the NTTF had no permission from AICTE  was illegal, contrary to the judgment of High Court passed in 2007 in connection with a case by N Vinaykumar in 2007 stating that the AICTE has recognised NTTF on October 3, 1996 and the permission had never been withdrawn.

When the judge questioned about the certificate issued by the institute, the petitioners submitted that only those students of batch 2005-06 have certificate issued by the Institute.

Justice Nazeer directed the three students (petitioners) passing in the year 2005-06 be permitted to participate in selection process and adjourned the matter.

Manhole cleaning

The High Court has directed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Urban Development Department (UDD) to mechanise the cleaning of manholes within six months.

Hearing a petition by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties in Karnataka (PUCLK), the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice Ashok Hinchigeri directed the State to stop manual cleaning.

The petitioners had moved the High Court seeking to prevent manual cleaning stating that the workers, who are forced to clean the drains, have been dying in the manholes.

Citing a study by the Centre for Education and Communication, the petitioners submitted that those working in manholes had been diagnosed with various ailments and their average life expectancy was 45 years. Counsel for the petitioners, H C Shivaram submitted that work in sewers is dangerous and the workers were forced to work in manholes without safety precautions and in violation of the National Human Rights Commission recommendations.