SC seeks K'taka’s response on exemption granted to Kodavas,Jummas on having firearms without license
The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice NV Ramana on Tuesday referred the Karnataka High Court’s verdict on the exemption granted to the Kodava Community and Jumma tenure holders to carry and possess firearms without license.
According to a report published by Scroll.in, the Ministry of Home Affairs had exempted the Kodava community and Jumma tenure holders from some of the provisions of the Arms Act, 1995.
The Kodava community lives predominantly in the Coorg region of Karnataka while Jumma tenure holders are people belonging to agriculturist castes inheriting land tenure called jumma.
Taking into account the exemption granted to only one community, a retired Army officer Captain Chethan YK had filed a petition earlier in the Karnataka HC which was later moved to Supreme Court.
“The arms or ammunition carried or possessed by any person being Coorg by race and every Jumma tenure holder in Coorg and herein exempted whilst residing or travelling outside the district of Coorg shall not exceed one rifle with 100 rounds of ammunition for the same and one smooth bore breech or muzzle loading gun with 500 cartridges or the equivalent in leaden shot and gunpowder,” said the notification filed by Union Ministry of Home Affairs on 29 October 2019.
Earlier in September, the High Court bench comprising Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and SS Magadum had upheld the Union Ministry’s validation of the exemption.
However, challenging this, Chethan had argued that the government notification creates discrimination based on “caste/race and ancestral land tenure” in a plea to the Supreme Court.
He also pointed out that according to the Section 41 of Arms Act, exemption from getting an arms license can be granted only in “public interest”.
“However, no reasoning has been given in the notification on granting such exemption to the Kodava community,” the plea added.
A senior counsel appearing for the Kodava community argued that the exemption had been since the British ruled India.
The Supreme Court has now proceeded to seek Karnataka government’s response in this regard.
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Nora Fatehi apologises before NCW over 'Sarke Chunar' row, vows support for orphan girls
New Delhi (PTI): Actor Nora Fatehi on Thursday appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with a controversy surrounding the song 'Sarke Chunar' and apologised, saying there was "no intention to offend anybody."
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Fatehi said she had been put in a situation unintentionally but acknowledged her responsibility as an artist.
"It was just a situation that I was put in, and there was no intention to offend anybody. But of course, I have to be responsible as an artiste. I definitely apologise, we have done everything in writing. They have been so kind and helpful," she said.
The actor also said she has decided to sponsor the education of a few orphan girls.
"It's really important for us to give back to society. So, I decided that we should sponsor a few orphan girls, their education, so that is the goal after this matter," she said.
Earlier, Fatehi distanced herself from the Hindi version of the song, saying she had shot the Kannada version and that her permission was not taken for its use in Hindi.
The Hindi version of the song, released on March 15 on YouTube, triggered outrage among a section of the public over its allegedly explicit lyrics.
Following the backlash, the makers removed the Hindi version from YouTube, though it continued to circulate across platforms. The lyricist, singer and director have also issued apologies.
'KD The Devil' is a Kannada film, dubbed in four languages, including Hindi.
