Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah launches new e-Khata scheme
Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched the ‘e-Khata – now from the comfort of your home’ scheme, which will allow people to access khata-related services online without visiting government offices, The New Indian Express reported.
The launch took place at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, appointment orders were distributed to pourakarmikas, house ownership documents were handed over to beneficiaries, and an e-Khata handbook was released. The programme was organised by the Directorate of Municipal Administration and the Belagavi City Corporation.
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Urban Development and Town Planning Minister Byrathi Suresh said over 6,000 urban civic workers, including pourakarmikas and sanitation staff, are being provided houses under the Gruha Bhagya scheme. He reportedly said 6,119 workers have been identified as beneficiaries, and the government has already released Rs 326 crore for the project.
As per the report, so far, construction of 4,159 houses has been completed. In addition, approvals have been issued for 172 houses in Belagavi and 133 in Vijayapura. The event was attended by several ministers, MLAs and senior officials.
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SC stays UGC regulation pertaining to definition of caste discrimination
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a recent University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation after various pleas were filed contending that the Commission adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded certain categories from institutional protection.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Centre and the UGC on the pleas challenging the regulation.
The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form "equity committees" to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on January 13.
The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, mandated that these committees must include members of the Other Backward Classes (OBC), the Scheduled Castes (SC), the Scheduled Tribes (ST), persons with disabilities, and women.
The new regulations replaces the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature.
The pleas assailed the regulation on the grounds that caste-based discrimination is defined strictly as discrimination against members of the SCs, STs and OBCs.
It said that by limiting the scope of "caste-based discrimination" only to SC, ST and OBC categories, the UGC has effectively denied institutional protection and grievance redressal to individuals belonging to the "general" or non-reserved categories who may also face harassment or bias based on their caste identity.
Protests were held at various places against the regulations, with student groups and organisations demanding its immediate rollback.
