Latest news with #V.KameswarRao
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Lok Adalat settles 3.11 lakh pending cases in courts and 55.56 lakh pre-litigation cases in public authorities in Karnataka
A Lok Adalat organised by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) has brought down the number of cases pending in various courts in the State by 3.11 lakh on a single day through mutual settlement of litigation, besides resolving around 55.56 lakh pre-litigation cases that were pending before various public authorities. But for amicable settlement, it could have taken at least 68 working days involving more than 1,000 judges to adjudicate these litigation and many of these pre-litigation cases would have given rise to a full-fledged litigation before the courts, said V. Kameswar Rao, acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, who is also Executive Chairperson of the KSLSA. 28-year-old case Addressing mediapersons here on Tuesday, the acting Chief Justice said a 28-year-old case of cheating was among the 2,377 old cases, pending for adjudication before various courts for more than 15 years, that were resolved through mutual agreement between the litigants. The Lok Adalat has also resulted in the settlement of 1,756 matrimonial cases, including cases related to domestic violence, besides witnessing the reunion of 331 couples as they decided to leave behind their differences following the conciliation process undertaken by the judges of various family courts. The amicable resolution of cases like cheque dishonour, land acquisition compensation, motor vehicle accident claims, debt recovery, and real estate and consumer disputes, has resulted in the settlement of around ₹2,878 crore, said Mr. Justice Rao. The KSLSA will hold the next Lok Adalat across the State on September 13.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka High Court notice to BBMP on plea to maintain footpaths in disable-friendly condition
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered issue of notice to the State government and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on a PIL petition, which has sought a direction to the authorities to ensure that the footpaths and roads in the city are maintained in strict compliance with the requirements of the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 2016. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi passed the order on the petition filed by Letzkit Foundation, a city-based NGO. It has been pointed out that even in places where the footpaths are properly laid in central parts of the city, they are not user friendly, particularly for the physically challenged persons. The 2016 Act emphasises the creation of a barrier-free environment, which includes accessible footpaths, the creation of a barrier-free environment, which includes accessible footpaths, for physically challenged persons, it has been stated in the petition. Obstructions galore Also, the petitioner has pointed out that there are large number of encroachment of footpaths across the city and at many places the residents have used the footpaths in front of their compound walls for gardening, either permanent in nature or by placing large flower pots with large flower bearing plants. It has also been complained in the petition that despite several directions issued by the court on clearing encroachments of footpaths in other PIL petitions earlier, the authorities have failed to keep the footpaths and streets free from obstructions.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Was any technical study done on dam safety before approving a Disneyland-type amusement park project near KRS? asks Karnataka High Court
The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the State government to inform by way of an affidavit whether any technical assessment was done on dam safety before approving the proposed Disneyland-type amusement park project near the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) in Mandya district at an estimated cost of ₹2,663 crore under the public-private partnership. The court also asked the government to give similar information on the proposed construction of infrastructure facilities and civil works to accommodate around 20,000 to 25,000 people in an open theatre and parking place to witness the proposed programme of Cauvery Aarti near the KRS, similar to Ganga Aarti conducted on the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh. Two PIL petitions A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi issued the direction during the hearing on two PIL petitions, filed by K. Boraiah and four other agriculturists from Krishnaraja Sagar in Srirangapatna taluk, and Sunanda Jayaram, an agriculturist from Gejjalagere in Mandya taluk. While Mr. Boraiah and others have questioned the tender issued on May 13, 2025, inviting proposals from private entities to develop the Disneyland-type project and to maintain it for 30 years, Ms. Jayaram has questioned the May 3, 2025, in-principal approval given by the Water Resources Department to Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited (CNNL), which is implementing the project, to utilise around ₹92 crore for creating permanent infrastructure for Cauvery Aarati. Safety concerns raised It has been pointed out in the petitions that safety of the KRS has been ignored by the authorities while proposing these projects while pointing out that the High Court, in response to separate petitions, in January 2024 banned all types of mining and quarrying activities within a 20-km radius of the dam till the completion of a study by experts and the decision to be taken by the committee on dam safety, set up as per the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021. The Bench directed both the government and the CNNL to file affidavit on conduct of any technical assessment of works related to proposed projects near the dam after the State Advocate-General, though assured the court that safety of the dam has been kept in mind while approving the projects and that apprehensions of the petitioners are unfounded, sought time to answer the specific query of the court on whether prior technical assessments were carried out in this regard. Earlier, the government pointed out to the court that the tender for the amusement park project is not yet complete, but that for installing a statue of the Cauvery is complete but work order is yet to be issued. Government documents produced before the court had a reference to an old technical assessment report with regard to the impact of installing the statue and not other construction works.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bike taxis were allowed in 2021 as remedy for last-mile connectivity issue and to generate public employment, bike taxi association argues in Karnataka High Court
The Karnataka government allowed bike taxis in 2021 by way of 'e-bike taxi scheme' as a solution to the bottleneck in the last-mile connectivity issue existing in the city' public transport system and to generate public employment, it was contended before the High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday on behalf of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association. These arguments were made before a Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi during the hearing on the appeals filed by the association along with technology transport aggregators Ola, Uber and Rapido and a few owners of two-wheelers. The appeals were filed against the April 2 verdict of a single judge, who had held that Ola, Uber, and Rapido cannot offer bike taxis on their platform unless the State government notifies relevant guidelines under Section 93 of the MV Act. Not study-based Withdrawal of the 'e-bike taxi scheme' in 2014 was not on a study-based decision but it was owing to 'political reasons' citing law and order situation allegedly arising due to continuous confrontation between the drivers of autorickshaws/maxi-cabs and the riders of bike taxis, and the bike taxi scheme lacking protection to women commuters, contended advocate Shashank Garg appearing for the association. The government should have taken remedial measure if law and order situation had arisen due to confrontation between the drivers instead of depriving the owners/riders of two wheelers from their fundamental right to operate their two-wheelers as taxis by registering them as transport vehicles in terms of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act and the Karnataka MV Rules, Mr. Garg argued. Stating that bike taxis are not any luxury service, Mr. Garg pointed out that not allowing bike taxis to operate in the State will impact the livelihood of 6 lakh people, who were operating as bike taxi riders, and their families. On the claim of the State government that it had taken a 'policy decision' not to allow bike taxis based on a 2019 report of a committee, which recommended against allowing bike taxis in Bengaluru, Mr. Garg contended that such a claim cannot be accepted as the government itself had allowed bike taxi scheme in 2021 'debunking the recommendation of the committee.' A vacuum Though the government is claiming that it had taken a 'policy decision' not to allow bike taxis, Mr. Garg said that there is in fact a 'vacuum' as there is neither any policy nor executive order that has been notified by the State government spelling out reasons for not allowing two wheelers to be used as taxis. Further hearing on the appeals was adjourned till July 2 as the Bench is yet to hear the arguments on behalf of the companies operating aggregator services.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
State government has no power in law to refuse registration of two-wheelers as transport vehicles and prevent their use as bike taxis, vehicle owners claim in Karnataka High Court
The State government has no power in law to refuse either registration of two-wheelers as transport vehicles or grant of contract carriage permits to them to carry a passenger under the 'guise of policy decision' when the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act permits two-wheelers to be used as contract carriage transport vehicles, it was argued before the High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday. This argument was made before a Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi during the hearing of the appeals against the April 2 verdict of a single judge, who had held that Ola, Uber, and Rapido cannot offer bike-taxis on their platform unless the State government notifies relevant guidelines under Section 93 of the MV Act. What govt. said The statement made before the court by the Advocate-General that the government has taken a 'policy decision' not to frame rules/guidelines to allow bike-taxis, is contrary to the provisions of the MV Act, it has been argued. Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for a few owners of two-wheelers, pointed out that a Division Bench of the High Court in 2021 made it clear that the definition of contract carriage under MV Act include even a motorcycle, to be used for hire and reward on which a passenger could be carried on pillion as notified by the Central government. The act of the State transport authorities in refusing to register two-wheelers as transport vehicles is a violation of the Act, Mr. Chinnappa contended. Why is there a provision in the MV Act that prescribes a fine on the permit holder of contract carriage, including two-wheelers, refusing to ply or to carry passengers if law does not recognise registration of two-wheelers as transport vehicles and grant of contract carriage permits, Mr. Chinnappa argued. Already covered He also contended that there is no need for separate licence or permission for the aggregators like Ola, Uber, Rapido and others to offer bike-taxis on their platforms as the licence by the State government under the Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016, is sufficient as it covers motor cabs, which include even two-wheelers. The Bench adjourned further hearing till June 25. The Bench is hearing appeals filed by Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd., ANI Technology Pvt. Ltd, which operates Ola services, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd., which operates Rapido services, and Varikruti Mahendra Reddy and others, who own two-wheelers. Meanwhile, the Bench permitted the Bike Taxi Welfare Association to join the appeals against the April 2 verdict.
