SC rejects Karnataka govt's plea against Tejasvi Surya, says 'fight your battles before electorate'
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the Karnataka government’s plea challenging the High Court’s decision to quash a criminal case against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya. The case pertained to allegations of spreading fake news related to a farmer’s suicide in Haveri district.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinodchandran expressed strong disapproval of politicising judicial proceedings. “What is this? Don’t politicise the matter. Fight your battles before the electorate. Dismissed with costs,” CJI Gavai remarked while refusing to entertain the state’s petition.
The case arose from a social media post by Surya on November 7, 2024, in which he shared a news article from Kannada media outlets claiming that a farmer named Rudrappa Channappa Balikai had taken his own life after learning that his land had been taken over by the Waqf Board. The post was later deleted when it was clarified that the farmer’s death, which occurred on January 6, 2022, was due to crop loss and financial distress, and had no connection with the Waqf Board.
The Haveri district police had registered a suo-motu case under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for promoting enmity or ill-will between different groups through false statements.
However, the Karnataka High Court had quashed the FIR earlier, after which the state appealed to the Supreme Court.
With the apex court’s dismissal, the case stands closed.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka govt seeks agency to manage rural drinking water units: Minister
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday said the state government is working to appoint an agency to manage clean drinking water units in rural areas.
The state Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister was responding to a question by Hirekerur MLA U B Banakar in the legislative assembly.
"In the rural areas of the state, many clean drinking water units have been set up under corporate social responsibility (CSR) grants, including contributions by MLAs and MPs, and handed over to gram panchayats. After the maintenance period, problems have arisen in keeping these units operational," Priyank said.
He added that a proposal has been made to award a maintenance contract to one of the country’s reputed drinking water unit manufacturing companies, but so far, no companies have come forward to take up the work.
ALSO READ: Woman threatens to end life as police official refuses to accept love proposal, FIR registered
"The government is continuing its efforts and will resolve this problem soon," he said.
On a query regarding fluoride content in water, the minister said water quality testing is being conducted monthly in all zilla panchayats.
"Laboratories have been opened for this purpose. Around 6.5 lakh water samples have been tested across the state, and water testing kits have been provided to villages," he added.
