Panchamasali reservation: K'taka HC stays high-level committee's work
Bengaluru, Aug 20: The Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on the high-level committee, which was tasked to suggest whether the Panchamasali sub-sect of Lingayats was eligible for inclusion in the 2A Category of reservations.
The state government on March 10, 2021 tasked the three-member committee headed by retired High Court judge, Justice Subhash B Adi to suggest whether Panchamasalis, currently in 3B Category could be moved to 2A Category.
The Karnataka State Backward Castes' Federation moved the court challenging the terms of reference given to the committee.
The Federation claimed that the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes is the only authority which can decide the inclusion or exclusion of any caste from the list of Backward Classes. Therefore, the terms of reference given to the committee was not in the law.
The committee was formed by way of a government order. The Federation claimed that there was no such provision under the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act 1995.
A single judge bench has heard the petition earlier this year and referred it to a division bench as it had to answer a substantial question of law. A division bench of the court on Friday gave a stay on the proceedings of the committee and adjourned the hearing to August 24.
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PoK belongs to India, we will take it back at any cost: Amit Shah
Sitamarhi (Bihar) (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and the country will take it back "at any cost".
Addressing an election rally in Sitamarhi Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, the former BJP president slammed the Congress-led opposition for "raising fear about Pakistan's atomic power".
"When Article 370 was scrapped, Rahul Gandhi had said that it would lead to bloodshed. Five years have elapsed and not a pebble has been hurled. But Congress's ally Farooq Abdullah tries scaremongering by saying that we cannot take back PoK as Pakistan has atom bombs," Shah asserted.
"I wish to declare from the birthplace of Goddess Sita that Bharat and its 140 crore people fear no one. Pakistan occupied Kashmir is ours and it will remain so. We will take it back," he said.
Shah said the Modi government will also ensure full security along the India-Nepal border in its third term.
Attacking the INDIA bloc, he said, "Lalu Prasad-led RJD has joined hands with the Congress that opposed the Mandal Commission's recommendations but PM Modi has given respect to lakhs of people from the backward classes. Lalu joined hands with the Congress only to make his son, Tejashwi Yadav, the chief minister of Bihar... but the state needs 'vikasraj, not 'jungelraj'."
"Congress ruled the country for 60 years but did not think about welfare of 60 crore OBCs. Congress and RJD never thought of conferring Bharat Ratna on former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur... it was done by the Modi government," he said.
Shah said that the NDA government has decided to develop 'Punaura Dham Mandir', a temple in Sitamarhi district considered to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, as an international pilgrimage site.
"After Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, we will construct a massive temple of Sita Mata in Sitamarhi," he said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet has approved Rs 72.47 crore for the development of the temple.
Senior JD (U) leader and Bihar Legislative Council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur is the NDA nominee from Sitamarhi Lok Sabha seat.
Shah will address another election rally in Madhubani Lok Sabha seat later in the day.
Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran and Hajipur Lok Sabha seats will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.
