File objections in Jagalur MLA case, govt told

The High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to file objections in connection with a petition seeking to disqualify S V Ramachandra, BJP MLA from Jagalur, who was elected in a bypoll, for submitting false affidavit pertaining to caste.

 The petitioners Thippeswamy and others had moved the Court stating that Ramachandra submitted false documents pertaining to caste to contest in the bypoll to Jagalur seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). The petitioners submitted that the MLA had stated that he belonged to the Maratha community, which is not a ST community. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar ordered notice to the MLA and the government.

 Notice to govt

 The High Court has ordered notice to the State government in connection with a petition seeking action against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for his provocative speech during the Hindu Samajotsava programme held at Uppinangady in Dakshina Kannada district earlier this year. The petitioners Suresh Bhat Bhakrabail, president of Komu Souharda Vedike, Dakshina Kannada district has moved the High Court, stating that despite an FIR being filed against Bhat, he has not been arrested by the police. He submitted that even the recent attack on women at a homestay in Mangalore was instigated by him.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar has ordered notice to the government, Bhat and others.

Stay extended

The High Court on Wednesday extended by two weeks (till August 22) the stay on the potency test on self-styled godman Nithyananda. Hearing a petition by Nithyananda, who had moved the High Court challenging the Ramanagara district court order for a medical test, Justice V Jagannathan extended the stay after the State government sought time to file objections.

The court had, on Tuesday, stayed the test after the counsel for the petitioner contended that the investigating agency had sought for it with a malafide intention.