Don't stage protest during Hinn's visit, HC tells Rama Sene

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday disposed of a petition against the visit of controversial evangelist Benny Hinn with a direction to the City Police Commissioner to ensure law and order on the occasion.

Benny Hinn is scheduled to visit Bangalore from January 15 to 19 and Sri Rama Sene had filed a public interest litigation urging the court to restrain Hinn from his proposed visit. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Nagarathna.

Justice Nagarathna observed that there were no objections when 2,000 people gathered for reciting the Bhagawadgita at Palace Grounds, and sought to know the reason for questioning the proposed visit of Hinn. The Bench directed the petitioner not to stage any protest during Hinn’s visit.

The petitioner had claimed that more than 100 buses were damaged during the protests when Hinn visited Bangalore in January 2005.  Accusing the government of double standards, the petitioner had contended that while seeking to bring in a law against superstitious practices, the government was allowing the visit of an evangelist who claims to be miracle healer.

‘Pay backwages’

The High Court has directed Bescom to pay backwages, terminal benefits and gratuity to 14 Bescom employees who were working on contract at Soujanya counters addressing consumers grievances.  A division bench headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela disposed of the appeal directing that these contract employees will be deemed as Bescom staff until their payments are cleared by Bescom.  

Jyothi S and 13 others had approached Industrial Tribunal seeking regularisation of their services after their contract was terminated on March 1, 2013.  

The Industrial Tribunal had directed Bescom to consider the plea and the Bescom general manager too assured that the contract employees would be absorbed whenever there was a vacancy.  However, Bescom objected saying that the decision was not taken in the Bescom Board meeting with the consent of Board members.  Later, Bescom filed an appeal to the High Court seeking to quash the direction of the Tribunal.