Karnataka HC dismisses PIL seeking revoking of license of Bar allegedly in close proximity to ‘Idgah
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to annul the license issued to a Bar and Restaurant situated allegedly within 100 meters of an 'Idgah' (a Muslim place of worship) in Hussainpura Village in Tumkur district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit dismissed the petition filed by residents of the village, stating that it was based on assumptions and presumptions, and the court cannot entertain such "half-baked petitions" under the guise of public interest litigation.
The petitioners argued that Respondent No. 8, operating Annapurna Bar and Restaurant, was a licensed liquor shop and was violating regulations. They also mentioned that, in response to their representation, state authorities and the village panchayat were considering moving the licensed premises to another location, which the petitioners opposed.
The court rejected these arguments, noting the lack of concrete evidence. It stated that there was no survey conducted by any authorized department or agency to confirm the licensed premises' proximity to the Idgah. Moreover, it found no evidence that the issue of shifting the license was considered by a competent authority, and there was no indication that such an authority recommended the relocation.
The bench also highlighted that none of the petitioners followed the Muslim religion, as per the details in the petition.
"Copy of the representation shows that none of the representatives is also following Muslim religion so as to raise any grievance of that nature," the court concluded, ultimately dismissing the petition at the threshold.
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.
Thiruvananthapuram: Fathima Thahiliya, a 34-year-old advocate, has won the Perambra Assembly constituency, defeating CPI(M) leader T.P. Ramakrishnan by 5,087 votes. She secured 81,429 votes in a closely contested election.
Thahiliya is a postgraduate in law from the University of Calicut. She began her journey in student politics and rose through the ranks of the Muslim Students Federation before entering mainstream politics. She later served as a councillor in the Kozhikode Corporation and is currently practising at the Calicut District Court.
She completed her B.A. LL.B from Government Law College, Kozhikode, and LL.M from Government Law College, Thrissur. She also serves as State Secretary of the Muslim Youth League.
Her candidature was among the few women candidates backed by the party and drew attention in a constituency considered a Left stronghold.
Soon after her candidacy was publicized, she faced intense cyber harassment, with her social media flooded with sexually explicit and derogatory remarks. She was abused and targeted for her identity as a young Muslim woman wearing a hijab, questioning her ability to contest elections.
Another controversy erupted during the campaign over the “Kauminte Kutti” remark, after allegations that campaign messages linked to the Left Democratic Front portrayed her as a “community candidate,” triggering political backlash and complaints to the Election Commission.
