SP Told to Provide Security to RTI Activist

Express News Service: Bengaluru: Tuesday, 16 December 2014.

The Karnataka High Court on Monday asked the Ramanagaram Superintendent of Police Chandragupta not to torture an RTI activist who has filed a petition challenging the appointment of Kanakpura Planning Authority’s president and members.

On Monday, during the hearing of the case, it was brought to the notice of the court that petitioner Ravi Kumar has been arrested in a case in which a warrant was pending. Hearing this, the court summoned Chandragupta to file a report on the criminal background of people appointed to the authority.

Ravi Kumar had contended that M D Vijaydev, K Puttamade Gowda and Joseph Gonsalvas were appointed as president and members of the authority on the basis of a recommendation letter written by the minister on his letter head to the chief minister. The petitioner also contended that the chief minister, based on the letter, ordered their appointment on February 14, 2014.

Judge Ram Mohan Reddy told Chandragupta that the petitioner has filed a complaint against Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and it is the SP’s  job to protect him even in custody.

Improve Village Schools, Govt Told A Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela, asked the government to upgrade schools in villages across the State so that students do not have to travel far for education.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by the Karnataka Legal Services Authority on the lack of infrastructure for schoolchildren in villages surrounding Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district.

Children in these areas walk about 20 kilometres every day to reach their school.

The authority had filed the petition based on an Express report published on August 14 which stated that the children walk through dense forest to reach their school at Shiroli village, located in the Khanapur jungle range. The report had highlighted that the students, mainly girls, had to deal with eve-teasers and attacks from wild animals. It had also stated that there was no proper public transportation in the area.

The state government on Monday submitted that they provide transport facilities to students whose schools are located far away. However, they said that in areas like Khanapur, they cannot provide public transport because of poor road conditions.

The court suggested that an upgrade of the education system was needed so that the  students didn’t have to travel far. The government pleader said a proposal is this regard had already been made and was under consideration.