Leader of Opposition R Ashoka says law and order completely deteriorated in Karnataka
Belagavi, Dec 13: Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on Wednesday alleged complete deterioration of law and order situation in Karnataka, and asked whether the Congress government was "dead or alive".
Making a preliminary submission before the Chair in the Legislative Assembly, seeking permission to move an adjournment motion on the law and order issue, he touched upon various incidents and accused the government of either inaction or failure in handling them.
"After Congress came to power in Karnataka, in the last four months, there has been an increase in cases. Is there law and order in Karnataka? Is the government dead or alive, I'm unable to understand," Ashoka, a former Deputy Chief Minister, said.
"Under this government, 43,412 cases have been registered, about 60 dacoity, 718 burglary, 12,642 robbery, 1,349 riot cases, 6,226 causing harm related cases, 1,211 POCSO cases, 809 caste related atrocities cases, 216 rape related cases, 8,043 cyber crime, among other cases -- a total of 43,412 cases have been registered, and till September-end 117 murder cases have been registered," he alleged.
Pointing at Lawyers' strike following alleged police assault on an advocate in Chikkamagaluru, Ashoka said after the Military, police are considered to be the next disciplined force and they never indulge in any kind of protest or strike, but in this case police too had staged a protest.
"But the government kept silent with their eyes shut and did not do anything. Even when police protested the Congress government remained silent. They did not intervene and hold negotiations," he alleged.
Also referring to incidents with communal overtones in Shivamogga with one involving posters of Tipu Sultan, and the Home Minister terming it as a minor incident, Ashoka said, "why curfew was imposed if it was a minor incident? There were reports of those linked to the Popular Front of India behind the incident."
He also highlighted alleged attacks on BJP and Hindu activists in Bhadravati, Belagavi, and Udupi among other several places, and also spoke about the recent incident where a woman was allegedly assaulted, paraded naked and tied to an electric pole in a village in Belagavi, which had shocked the state.
There are also reports of an incident about a Superintendent of Police's high-handedness against protesting farmers, he said, adding, "is there no one to ask in this government? Is the government alive or dead? If alive, they should have taken action against the SP and also against the police who staged the protest."
This government boasts of having the support of 136 MLAs, but they don't take any action, Ashoka said, adding, the law and order situation in Karnataka has completely deteriorated; certain incidents (like parading of a women naked) taking place in Belagavi when the legislature session is under way here --- "we have to bow our head in shame."
Earlier, Home Minister G Parameshwara objected to Ashoka raising the issue under adjournment motion, pointing out that the issue of law and order cannot be taken up for discussion under the section.
Speaker Khader too stated that the law and order issue cannot be taken up for discussion under adjournment motion and he would allow the issue to be raised in some other format under a different rule.
However, Ashoka insisted that the Chair should hear his preliminary submission and then decide whether to allow discussion under adjournment motion or not. "Earlier too there have been instances where a law and order issue has been raised under adjournment motion...the chair has the right to convert the discussion under some other rule, based on my preliminary submission."
Later, after hearing Ashoka's preliminary submission, Speaker Khader said he will give an opportunity for discussion on the issue under some other rule in a couple of days, as law and order issues cannot be raised under adjournment motion.
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BCI urges CJI to take action against Andhra HC judge for sending young lawyer to 24-hour custody
New Delhi (PTI): The Bar Council of India on Wednesday sought the urgent intervention of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant following a "deeply disturbing" incident where a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court reportedly sent a young advocate to
24-hour judicial custody over a procedural lapse.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson and senior advocate Manan Kumar Mishra, in a formal representation, termed the conduct of Justice Tarlada Rajasekhar Rao "grossly inappropriate" and "damaging to the confidence of the Bar".
“I most respectfully request your Lordship to kindly take immediate institutional cognizance of the matter and call for the video recording of the proceedings, the order passed, and the surrounding circumstances.
“I further request that appropriate administrative action may kindly be considered, including withdrawal of judicial work from the learned Judge pending review, his immediate transfer to some far off High Court, and his nomination for appropriate judicial training/orientation on court management, judicial temperament, Bar-Bench relations, and proportional exercise of contempt/judicial authority,” Mishra wrote.
This representation is made to preserve the “dignity, moral authority and public confidence of the judiciary”, he said, adding, “Judges command the highest respect not by fear, but by fairness, patience, restraint and constitutional humility”.
The communication urged the CJI to intervene at the earliest to ensure that the faith of Bar, particularly young advocates, in the protective and corrective role of the judiciary is restored.
The controversy stems from proceedings on May 5.
According to the BCI, a video circulating online shows Justice Rao rebuking a young advocate who was unable to produce a specific order copy during a hearing.
The letter said that despite the advocate "repeatedly seeking pardon and mercy" and claiming he was in physical pain, the judge remained "unmoved".
The judge allegedly told the lawyer, "now you will learn," and mocked his experience before directing the Registrar and police personnel to take him into custody for 24 hours.
The BCI chairperson said that the judge’s actions lacked proportionality and fairness.
"The dignity of the court is not enhanced when a lawyer is made to beg for grace in open court and is still sent to custody for a procedural lapse," the letter said.
"A young lawyer... is an officer of the Court, still learning, still growing, and entitled to correction without humiliation," it added.
The bar body said that such actions create a "chilling effect" on the legal fraternity, particularly among junior members, and undermine the mutual respect required between the Bench and the Bar.
