HC directs Koppal police not to take coercive action against Yatnal in provocative statement case
Bengaluru: Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued an interim order directing Koppal Town Police not to take coercive action against Vijayapura legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who is facing charges of making a provocative statement by offering Rs 5 lakh to Hindu youngsters who marry Muslim girls.
Meanwhile Justice MI Arun, who heard the petition, has also asked the MLA to cooperate with the police during the investigation of the case.
On August 10, Yatnal had met the family of Gavisiddappa, a youngster from Bahaddur Bandi Road in Koppal town, who had been allegedly murdered on August 3. Speaking during the visit, the MLA had made the offer, stating that it would be the appropriate response to Muslims who had a penchant for murdering people. He had also accused the state government of belonging to Muslims. Koppal Town Police filed an FIR against Yatnal, based on a complaint by one Abdul Kalam, who accused the legislator of making a provocative statement.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the petitioner’s advocate Venkatesh Dalvayi argued that the law does not prohibit inter-religion marriage and, given that India is a secular nation, the statement cannot be considered criminal merely since some people were not comfortable with it.
The HC bench, which heard the petition filed by Yatnal to quash the FIR, has issued the interim order to the police as well as the petitioner. It has also issued urgent notice to the complainants Qamar Junaid Qureshi, Mainuddin Bilagi and Abdul Kalam before adjourning the hearing.
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 to strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy, after HC directive
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy across all sectors at the earliest, following the High Court directive.
The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed the state government to "strictly and faithfully" implement the menstrual leave policy, pending formal enactment of the proposed legislation.
"I welcome the directive issued by the Karnataka High Court in support of our state government's ambitious menstrual leave policy," Lad said.
The state government has taken firm steps to implement the menstrual leave policy comprehensively, and as a model to the country, he said in a post on 'X' on Thursday.
"In line with the court's opinion that menstrual leave is a matter of women's dignity, justice, and humane recognition of their lived realities, we will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy--equivalent to one day per month, or 12 days per year--across all sectors at the earliest," he added.
The court had said that in the interregnum, it shall be incumbent upon the state to ensure effective operationalisation of the policy through the issuance of suitable guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions, as may be necessary to secure its uniform, consistent, and rigorous implementation across all sectors.
The court issued the directive while hearing on a petition filed by 41-year-old Chandravva Hanumant Gokavi, who works in a hotel in Mudalgi of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district, before the Dharwad bench, seeking implementation of the November 20, 2025, order of the government providing one-day menstrual leave for all working women.
