Mangaluru: BIT, BEADS inaugurate six-day second online International Carbon Neutral conference
Bearys Institute of Technology, Mangalore, and Bearys Enviro-Architecture Design School has inaugurated the second online International Carbon Neutral Conference on 6th August 2020. The six days mega event Titled “Sustainable Urban Development, Resource conservation & Food Security” (SURF-2020). The event began with the invocation of Almighty.
The BIT Principal, Dr. S.I Manjur Basha welcomed the gathering from International Conference Hall at 10:30 AM. In his speech, he has highlighted the environmental changes and their challenges. Followed by the presidential address by Chairman, Bearys Group, Mr. Syed Mohamed Beary, quoted “Every human activity upon assessment points towards the damage done to nature”. Hence, he stressed on the journal papers should contain the practical solution to the problem faced by society and industry.
He also wished great success for the conference and requested for active participation and feedback to make the next episode even better. He urged the people to extend helping hand to deserving people during this pandemic.
Ar. Ashok LP Mendonca, convener SURF-2020 gave the overall program flow for all six days also spoke about the three webinars conducted. On topics of “Making Slums Livable”, “Online Education- Prospects & Challenges” and “Emergent Architecture & Technologies” conducted on 16th July, 24th July, and 30th July respectively.
Dr. Abdullah Gubbi, Publication Chair gave the statistics about the papers and posters received. He also mentioned the participation from eleven countries across the globe. Dr. Aziz Mustafa, Director BIT-Polytechnic gave the vote of thanks followed by the paper presentation.
A total of forty-nine papers were presented on day one. The ITES head Prof. Afsar Baig M was also present during the inauguration. The program was witnessed by all the Heads of various departments, all Teaching, and non-teaching staff. The master of ceremony for the inauguration was Prof. Ankita Bekal, Faculty of BIT.
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Shobha Karandlaje urges Governor to withhold assent to Karnataka hate speech bill
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on Friday urged Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to withhold assent to the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, terming the Bill "vague, overbroad, and susceptible to misuse".
She also requested him to reserve the Bill for the consideration of President Droupadi Murmu under Article 200 of the Constitution of India, in the larger interest of constitutional governance, democratic freedoms, and the rule of law.
The bill, passed by both houses of the legislature, will be sent to the Governor for his assent.
Taking to social media 'X', the minister said, "The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill 2025 hands the State sweeping authority to silence opposition voices, restrain the media, and intimidate the citizens who defend Karnataka's land, language, and Dharma. This isn't a hate speech prevention bill, it's rather a bill that prevents the right to speech." "We will not let Congress turn the law into a tool to choke free speech and democratic dissent," she added.
In a letter to the governor, Karandlaje said the objective of the Bill is to address hate speech and hate crimes. However, upon careful examination, it becomes evident that the Bill, in its present form, establishes a "State-controlled mechanism" for monitoring, assessing, and penalising speech, rather than narrowly addressing expression that poses a clear and imminent threat to public order.
"The structure of the Bill enables executive authorities to determine the permissibility of expression, thereby transforming the law into a tool capable of suppressing voices critical of the government. Such an approach undermines the constitutional guarantee of democratic dissent and free expression," she said.
Citing reference of article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India that guarantees freedom of speech and expression to every citizen, she said, "The Bill departs from these constitutional limits by employing broad, vague, and subjective expressions such as "disharmony," "ill-will," and "prejudicial interest," which are not precisely defined. These terms confer excessive discretion on the Executive, enabling arbitrary and selective enforcement, which is inconsistent with constitutional safeguards."
She said the constitutional infirmities of the present Bill must be examined in light of the Supreme Court's judgment in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, (2015), wherein the Court held that any law regulating speech must be clear, narrowly tailored and free from vagueness.
The minister alleged that the Bill further authorises executive authorities and law-enforcement agencies to assess and act upon speech without adequate judicial oversight. Penal consequences are linked to executive assessment, thereby concentrating investigative and adjudicatory functions within the Executive.
"Such an arrangement erodes procedural safeguards and is inconsistent with constitutional principles governing the protection of fundamental rights," she alleged.
Karandlaje also pointed out the potential impact of the Bill on "historically marginalised" and "constitutionally protected" voices.
"The vague and expansive language of the legislation is capable of being invoked to silence Kannada language activists, women's organisations, representatives of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, backward classes, minorities, journalists, student groups, and civil society organisations that raise issues of governance, social justice, or administrative accountability," she said.
Instead of empowering vulnerable communities, according to the minister, the Bill risks becoming an instrument to deter them from articulating grievances and participating meaningfully in public discourse, thereby defeating the very constitutional promise of equality, dignity, and inclusive democracy.
The minister alleged that the cumulative effect of the Bill is likely to create a "pervasive chilling effect" on public discourse, which is incompatible with democratic governance.
Pointing out that the Bill directly impacts fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution, she said, "In view of the serious constitutional questions it raises, this is a fit case for the exercise of constitutional discretion under Article 200. Reserving the Bill for the consideration of the President would enable a broader constitutional examination of its implications for civil liberties and the federal constitutional balance."
