Karnataka HC grants permission for "Justice for Sowjanya" protest at Bengaluru's Freedom Park
Bengaluru, Mar 19 (PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted permission for a peaceful protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, in connection with the ongoing demand for justice in the Sowjanya case.
The protest is being organised to demand justice for Soujanya (17), a second-year Pre-University student of the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College who was allegedly raped and murder on October 9, 2012.
The order was delivered by Justice M Nagaprasanna while hearing petitions filed by Karnataka Karmikara Vedike and Native Empowering and Equipping Team for Hope and Interaction.
While allowing the protest, the court underscored the importance of maintaining peace and public order. It stated that if there was any breach of the law during the demonstration, authorities would be within their rights to take appropriate legal action.
Justice Nagaprasanna observed, "I deem it appropriate to permit the petitioners to hold a peaceful protest, strictly in consonance with the law. If there is any violation of the observations made in the judgments of the coordinate bench, the respondent state is at liberty to take action in accordance with the law."
During the hearing, Advocate A Velan, representing the petitioners, informed the court that an initial request for holding the protest was submitted to the Tahsildar in Belthangady Taluk. The request was initially approved but later withdrawn following an objection from an advocate.
The petitioners argued that the state government could not suppress the fundamental right to protest by issuing blanket prohibitory orders. They contended that preventing citizens from demonstrating peacefully would amount to an infringement of their constitutional rights under Article 19(1)(a), which guarantees freedom of speech and expression. Velan assured the court that the protest would be conducted lawfully.
Soujanya case was widely discussed case in Karnataka, especially in the coastal region of the state. Her body was found near the Nethravathi river and her hands were tied to a tree with her shawl.
The police charged Santhosh Rao with the murder but he was acquitted by a Bengaluru Sessions Court in 2023. Throughout the legal proceedings, Soujanya's family maintained that Santhosh Rao had been wrongfully implicated, alleging flaws in the investigation and asserting that Veerendra Heggade, a religious leader from Dharmasthala, shielded the actual perpetrators.
The acquittal prompted public protests and renewed calls for a fresh inquiry into the case.
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Congress govt's two-year celebration likely in Vijayanagara on May 20
Mysuru/Bengaluru, May 12 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday indicated that the Congress government’s event in the Vijayanagara district to mark two years of the party in power is likely to be held on May 20.
He said his government had walked the talk by fulfilling the promise it had made to the people of the state.
The Cabinet on Friday decided to indefinitely postpone the government’s event marking two years, in the view of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
"We want to do it (celebration event), because when we decided in the Cabinet to postpone it, the ceasefire was not yet announced," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said Congress general secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and K C Venugopal have already communicated to party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi about the postponement.
"They (Surejewala and Venugopal) will now check with them (Kharge and Gandhi) and let us know. We want to organise the event, " he added.
Responding to a question as to how he rates his government's performance, Siddaramaiah said, "If there is any government that has walked the talk, it is our government. We have performed as promised."
Not wanting to respond to a question if the cabinet reshuffle was on the cards, the CM said the media will be informed when it is done.
To mark the second anniversary of its rule, the Congress government is planning to distribute one lakh title deeds to eligible beneficiaries, whose "undocumented habitations" have been declared as revenue villages, during the event.
Earlier, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar too said preparations are being initiated to organise an event at Vijayanagara on May 20.
"We had decided to postpone it considering the situation at the border, but now with the ceasefire in place, we want to do it," he said.
All district in-charge ministers have been asked to visit assembly segments and to hold meetings with officers and party karyakartas separately there. The government also plans to distribute one lakh title deeds to eligible beneficiaries during the two year's celebrations, as committed in the manifesto, he said.
"Congress party leadership will also be invited for the event," Shivakumar added.
