HC strikes down Hindu Endowments Act

The High Court on Tuesday struck down the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act, 2011 and Karnataka Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Act, 2012 in entirety stating the said Acts were discriminatory and violative of Constitutional rights. 

A division bench comprising Justice Anand Byrareddy and Justice S Sujatha pronounced the judgement after hearing a batch of petitions in Dharwad bench, filed by 68 temples of Uttara Kannada district under the Muzrai department. The petitioners had contended that giving powers to the State government for appointing non-official members of their choice was being largely misused at the religious institutions.

Notice stayed 

The High Court has stayed the notice issued by the Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI), which had asked Nisargalaya Herbal Company Pvt Ltd not to advertise their product.  The ASCI had issued the notice based on a complaint stating the product manufactured by company was not giving the desired result and that the company was duping consumers.  The Council had issued notice to various newspapers and TV channels not to advertise the product.

The company contended that ASCI was not a statutory body and had no authority to issue notice to them and the media. The petitioner contended that any bar on it from advertising its products would amount to taking away its rights.

Justice Anand Byrareddy granted stay on the notice and ordered emergent notice to the Council and various media houses. The matter was adjourned.