SC seeks K'taka’s response on exemption granted to Kodavas,Jummas on having firearms without license
The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice NV Ramana on Tuesday referred the Karnataka High Court’s verdict on the exemption granted to the Kodava Community and Jumma tenure holders to carry and possess firearms without license.
According to a report published by Scroll.in, the Ministry of Home Affairs had exempted the Kodava community and Jumma tenure holders from some of the provisions of the Arms Act, 1995.
The Kodava community lives predominantly in the Coorg region of Karnataka while Jumma tenure holders are people belonging to agriculturist castes inheriting land tenure called jumma.
Taking into account the exemption granted to only one community, a retired Army officer Captain Chethan YK had filed a petition earlier in the Karnataka HC which was later moved to Supreme Court.
“The arms or ammunition carried or possessed by any person being Coorg by race and every Jumma tenure holder in Coorg and herein exempted whilst residing or travelling outside the district of Coorg shall not exceed one rifle with 100 rounds of ammunition for the same and one smooth bore breech or muzzle loading gun with 500 cartridges or the equivalent in leaden shot and gunpowder,” said the notification filed by Union Ministry of Home Affairs on 29 October 2019.
Earlier in September, the High Court bench comprising Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and SS Magadum had upheld the Union Ministry’s validation of the exemption.
However, challenging this, Chethan had argued that the government notification creates discrimination based on “caste/race and ancestral land tenure” in a plea to the Supreme Court.
He also pointed out that according to the Section 41 of Arms Act, exemption from getting an arms license can be granted only in “public interest”.
“However, no reasoning has been given in the notification on granting such exemption to the Kodava community,” the plea added.
A senior counsel appearing for the Kodava community argued that the exemption had been since the British ruled India.
The Supreme Court has now proceeded to seek Karnataka government’s response in this regard.
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MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
