Karnataka introduces Bill proposing three-year jail, penalty for social boycotting
Belagavi: The Karnataka government on Thursday introduced a Bill in the Assembly to prohibit and criminalise social boycott, especially those imposed by self-appointed caste panchayats, with a jail term of up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh, Deccan Herald reported.
According to the report, the Karnataka Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, presented by Law Minister H K Patil, lists 19 forms of social ostracisation. These include refusal to do business, denying opportunities, obstruction from participation in events or blocking access to facilities and cutting-off of ties.
The Bill reportedly notes that unconstitutional practices such as caste panchayats issuing punishments or enforcing boycotts continue in parts of the state. Any assembly of people convened to impose a boycott will be treated as an unlawful gathering and attract penalties. Aiding or abetting such boycotts will also invite up to three years’ jail and Rs 1 lakh fine.
Under the proposed law, the government will appoint a Social Boycott Prohibition Officer to detect offences.
As per the report, the government also introduced the Greater Bengaluru Governance (Second Amendment) Bill in the Assembly on Thursday. The Bill seeks to include Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, MLAs and MLCs as members of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The chief secretary and heads of the urban development and finance departments will also get seats in the GBA, as per the Bill.
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Rupee falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
