HC tells govt to table Manippadi report in Legislature

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to table the report on encroachment on Wakf properties submitted by the then Chairperson of Minority Commission Anwar Manippadi either during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature or the upcoming session in 2019.

The state government, which had previously told the HC that it will table the report in February 2016, had failed to do so. Former minister S K Kantha had moved a contempt petition following this. In October this year, the HC had again ordered to place the report in the House within four weeks. However, the government filed a review petition contending that as per Section 10(2) of the Karnataka Minorities Commission Act, only recommendations of the commission can be placed before the House.

A division bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Justice B A Patil which heard the review petition, opined that the case has no merit to be taken up for further hearing and disposed of the matter.

In March 2012, the then chairperson of state minorities commission Anwar Manippadi submitted a detailed report on encroachment on Wakf properties across Karnataka, to the state government.

N Dinesh Rao, Additional Advocate General said that the case will not attract the court’s contempt as it has given time till the 2019 legislative session.

Anwar Manippadi said, “The struggle spanning the last seven years is now approaching a logical end. The state government must table the report immediately and let the world know the truth.”