Karnataka: Councillor with BPL card loses post after court finds he has 500 kg jewellery
Tumakuru, Sep 9: A magistrate court has declared as null and void the election of a JD(S) councillor to a local body here, after he did not rebut the petitioner's claims of possessing 500 kg ornaments despite having a BPL card.
Senior Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate of First Class of Sira, Geethanjali G found K Ravishankar, councillor of Ward-9 of Sira City Municipal Council, guilty of suppressing facts in his election affidavit.
Defeated Congress candidate M Krishnappa had filed the election petition before the court in the aftermath of polls to the city municipal council in Sira held on December 30, 2021.
It was alleged that Ravishankar had hidden the fact in the election affidavit that he was convicted in criminal cases. He also disclosed that he possessed 500 kg of gold and received Rs 3.6 lakh in rent. However, he possessed a Below Poverty Line (BPL) card.
In his submission to the court, Ravishankar stated that he had forgotten about the old criminal cases. He claimed that he had 499.5 kg of silver and only 500 grams of gold. But he had mentioned them together in the affidavit. However, he did not enter the witness box to make his statements.
"This court opines that there is an overwhelming evidence to demonstrate about suppression of information by the petitioner which breaches the fundamental right of the voters guaranteed under the Constitution and right to know which is exclusive of freedom of speech and expression as held in the aforesaid decision," the court said in its August 26 judgement partly allowing the petition filed under the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964.
"From going through the oral as well as documentary evidence placed before this court, it is of the opinion that the respondent No.1 has suppressed the material facts and given false affidavit which amounts to undue influence and corrupt practice as held by Hon'ble Supreme Court in several decisions and the respondent No.1 except filing his objection has not stepped into the witness box to rebut the evidence of the petitioner's side," the court said in its judgement.
"He also admits that he possessed 500 kg of ornaments though in his written statement contended that he has got only 499.5 kg silver worth Rs 37,46,250 and 500 grams of gold worth of Rs 7,53,750," the court said pointing out that this was contrary to the income certificate and BPL card he possessed.
Declaring his election as null and void, the court said the admission given by the Ravishankar in the absence of rebuttal evidence leads to an adverse inference to be drawn against the respondent for non-stepping into witness box in spite of serious allegations supported by documentary evidence.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
