Karnataka Lifesavers Bill gets President’s nod
First of its kind Bill in country have some special features
New Delhi, September 30: Finally, the much awaited Karnataka Lifesavers Bill, aimed at ensuring the legal protection to those who save the injured people and admit them to hospitals after accidents, got the nod from the President. With the President’s approval, Karnataka became the first state in the country to have such a Bill.
With the increase of deaths due to accidents in the country, Karnataka has become the first state to pass this kind of Bill in the country. This Bill was passed to ensure treatment to the injured person within a ‘Golden Hour’ (In medical term, the one hour after accident is called Golden Hour as the victim can be saved if the person gets treatment within this time period) after accident.
Earlier, the person who saved the victims or the person who admit the injured persons to the hospitals has to attend the police stations and courts and give statements. Now, the new Bill will put an end to such practices. Instead, the lifesavers will be given incentives for the service. If it is necessary to give statements in the courts, the government will be giving travelling allowance to the lifesavers from the Lifesavers Fund.
According to the new Bill, the lifesavers could leave the hospitals as soon as they admit the victims to the hospitals. All hospitals including private and government, should immediately provide first aid to the injured persons. The new Bill would ensure no harassment to the lifesavers, official sources said.
The officials have raised concerns over the increasing habits of recording the accidents in mobile phones instead of admitting the victims to the hospitals or taking care of them. In 2016, total 1,50,785 persons have lost their lives in 4,80,652 accidents. In 2015, 1,46,133 persons have lost their lives in 5,01,423 accident cases. In between these two years, Karnataka is one among five states where accidental deaths were more.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
