CM Bommai removes R Ashoka as minister in-charge of Mandya
Bengaluru, Feb 10: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he is "freeing" state Revenue Minister R Ashoka as the Mandya district in-charge minister.
The announcement came barely a fortnight after he was made in-charge of Mandya district.
Bommai said the decision was taken on Ashoka's request as he had many other responsibilities to take care of.
"Ashoka had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility. Heeding to his request, I will issue an order freeing him from the responsibility of Mandya district in charge minister," the Chief Minister told reporters.
According to Bommai, the Revenue Minister himself volunteered to give up the additional responsibility. "There is one change in the district in-charge minister. Ashoka had written a letter to me," Bommai said.
The Chief Minister explained that Ashoka was instrumental behind issuing over 50,000 'Hakku Patra' (ownership deed) to those dwelling in Lamani Thandas. A similar drive will be carried out in Davangere Lamani Thanda.
Also, there will be Hakku Patra distribution to 10,000 people in and around Bengaluru, he added.
Ashoka will have to oversee the programme of deputy commissioners of the districts visiting villages. He also heads the Kempegowda and Basaveshwara statue committee, Bommai said.
"Since he has to give time and do justice to all the works he has taken up, he had requested me to free him from the Mandya district in-charge responsibility," the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister had appointed Ashoka as the in-charge of Mandya district replacing Excise Minister K Gopalaiah.
A day later, many posters with messages 'Ashoka go back', and 'Boycott Ashoka' dotted prime locations of Mandya. Speculations are that leaders and workers of his own party in Mandya had opposed his appointment as the district in-charge minister and put out the posters.
The development came at a crucial juncture when the assembly elections are less than three months away and winning Mandya district, which is considered to be a Janata Dal (Secular) bastion, is important for the ruling BJP.
Neither Ashoka nor Gopalaiah were available for comments.
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K’taka HC judge whose controversial remarks triggered controversy expresses regret before open court
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court judge, Justice V Srishananda, on Saturday expressed regret in open court after facing backlash over his controversial remarks in his recent court hearings, reported Bar and Bench.
Two purported video clips from Justice V Srishananda’s court hearing that show him making inappropriate comments went viral across social media platforms.
On Saturday, Justice Srishananda invited members of the Advocates Association, Bengaluru, and senior lawyers to his courtroom at 2:30 PM, where he read out a note expressing regret for inappropriate comments.
Quoting Advocates Association President Vivek Subba Reddy, Bar and Bench wrote, “He expressed regret for the comments and clarified that it was not his intention to offend any community or members of the Bar. He also requested the association to relay this message to all members of the Bar.”
Reddy further stated, “We also advised him to encourage young lawyers in the courtroom and refrain from making any irrelevant remarks during hearings.”
Another senior lawyer present during the session confirmed to the legal news portal that Justice Srishananda also addressed comments directed at a woman lawyer, who was seen in one of the videos being reprimanded by the judge. The judge Justice Srishananda clarified that his remarks were not intended to target her (woman lawyer) specifically, but rather pertained to the appellant she was representing. “He explained that his comment was meant to imply that the appellant seemed to know a lot about the other party,” said the lawyer.
In addition, Justice Srishananda assured those present that he would avoid making such comments in the future.
The controversy came to light on September 19, when a video clip from an August 28 Court hearing surfaced on social media, showing Justice Srishananda referring to a Muslim-majority sub-locality in Bengaluru’s Goripalya as "Pakistan." Hours later, another video from the same courtroom emerged, in which the judge was seen making a gender-insensitive remark.
Following outrage over the viral videos, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, and Hrishikesh Roy, on September 20 took a suo motu cognizance and sought a report from the Karnataka High Court Registrar General in connection with the viral video.
