38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Judiciary

Karnataka High Court Asks State to Decide on Prosecuting MP Tejasvi Surya for Not Wearing Masks

By Pavitra Shetty      17 November, 2020 05:17 PM      0 Comments
Karnataka High Court Asks State to Decide on Prosecuting MP Tejasvi Surya for Not Wearing Masks

Karnataka High Court has called on the state government for not penalizing BJP Lok Sabha member Tejasvi Surya and others for not wearing masks and flouting norms by attending political events.

The original petition had drawn attention to safety guideline violations at social gatherings, religious places, and shopping malls.

The petition was filed when daily cases had touched a peak of over 10,000 in Karnataka, with the majority being reported in Bangalore. Although the number of cases has been steadily decreasing, Bangalore remains a concern.

A divisional bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty was hearing a petition filed by city-based NGO Letzkit Foundation that had brought to light widespread violations of Covid-19 safety guidelines by political leaders.

Senior lawyer G.R. Mohan, who appeared for advocate Geeta Mishra who impleaded in the case, said that the bench asked the BJP government lawyer whether the state had fined Surya and the others.

Karnataka is the second worst-affected state in India with over 8.38 lakh Covid cases and more than 11,000 deaths.

In a memo filed to implead in the original petition, Mohan had submitted news clippings showing Surya riding an open vehicle, which was part of a convoy, from Bangalore airport to the BJP party office after he arrived in the city on September 30 following his appointment as BJP YuvaMorcha national president.

The visuals showed how Surya and others had neither maintained physical distancing nor worn masks.

The petitioner had cited violation of the Disaster Management Act and the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Ordinance, 2000, that call for stringent punishment of up to five years in jail for such violations.

“The court questioned the government about the rationale behind penalizing common citizens with fines while not acting against politicians,” Mohan said.

“Police were also taken to task for not filing FIRs against politicians who have violated the norms during public meetings and processions, especially when these are cognizable offenses,” he further added.

The court also came down heavily on a compliance report filed by the city police that claimed that Surya had followed physical distancing protocol and worn a mask during the rally to the party office.

“The court asked how the police report could say he (Surya) had complied with the norms when pictures carried by the media showed otherwise,” Mohan said, adding the procession was held without police permission.

According to the police report, the force had refused permission to the BJP event to receive Surya in light of the pandemic. It further stated that party supporters had gathered at a highway tollgate on the way back from the airport and accompanied Surya in a convoy.

The police informed the court that it had booked 25 BJP activists for not wearing masks at the Surya event.

Surya could not be reached for comment as his secretary who handles his calls did not respond.

The court sought details from the government about the number of such political rallies allowed during the recent months when safety guidelines related to the epidemic were in force.

The hearing for the case will be held on November 9.



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email