BENGALURU: Parents looking to getting seats for their wards under Right to Education (RTE) quota for 2018-19 academic year don’t have to worry. The State Election Commission has cleared the request submitted by state Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to allot seats through online lottery.

Officials from the department have confirmed that they have received permission on Wednesday and the lottery will be conducted in the next two days.

As per the schedule, online lottery for allotment of seats under RTE  quota should be conducted on April 20. But the department did not notify the date as there was no response from the State Election Commission. “As we have received the communication now, the notification will be issued,” said P C Jaffer, commissioner of DPI.

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Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The VHP on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, accusing the state government of weakening a law that has deterred illegal cattle transport.

The organisation's Go Raksha Wing, Karnataka South, has also announced district-level protests on December 8.

According to officials, the existing law mandates a bank guarantee for securing the release of vehicles seized for alleged illegal cattle transportation.

On December 4, the state Cabinet proposed an amendment enabling the release of such vehicles on an indemnity bond instead.

Addressing reporters in Udupi, VHP leader and Prantha Goraksha Pramukh Sunil K R, said the government's move amounted to "sympathy for cattle lifters" and claimed that it was part of broader actions "targeting Hindus".

He argued that the law in its current form is stringent and has played a crucial role in reducing incidents of illegal cattle transport and theft.

Under the Act, vehicles involved in offences can be surrendered and, upon conviction, permanently seized by authorities. "Diluting these provisions will embolden offenders," Sunil said.

The VHP leader warned that easing the process of vehicle release would not only encourage violators but also result in rising cruelty against cattle.

Sunil further claimed that the strict enforcement of the 2020 law had brought down cases of cattle-related offences significantly. Rolling back these provisions, he said, could reverse those gains and would lead to an increase in illegal transport.

He reiterated that the government must reconsider its decision and preserve the integrity of the existing law.