JOIN USA special bench of the Dharwad High Court bench on Wednesday ordered notice to the State government in a petition challenging the ban imposed on a book on Valmiki, authored by K S Narayanacharya.
The State government has banned the book “Valmiki Yaaru?” (Who is Valmiki?) by K S Narayanacharya on the ground that it contained material hurting the sentiments of a community. The Upparapet police in Bengaluru have filed a FIR against the author.
Publisher of the book, Subramanya, and the author have approached the High Court challenging the government’s action. Section 96 of CrPC provides for moving the HC seeking to set aside the forfeiture of a publication. However, the matter has to be heard by a special bench consisting of three or more judges.
Accordingly, a special bench comprising Justices A S Bopanna, Venugopala Gowda and Pradeep Waingankar ordered the government to file its objections in two weeks.