Here are the big stories from Karnataka today
The Hindu
Welcome to the Karnataka Today newsletter, your guide from The Hindu on the major news stories to follow today.
The Sadashivanagar police have booked former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader B.S. Yediyurappa under Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 2012, for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl on February 2 at his residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru. Mr. Yediyurappa has denied the allegations, in a statement issued in the morning on March 15.
The announcement of Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar as BJP’s candidate for the Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency on March 13 also marks the return of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore’s return to active politics after a gap of two decades. Ever since Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, four-time MP, lost the 2004 elections to the Lok Sabha from Mysuru constituency, the erstwhile royal family had gradually faded away from the political scene.
On March 12, the Supreme Court set aside the interim order of a division bench of the High Court of Karnataka, which had given the State government a green signal to conduct board exams for the summative assessment of students of classes 5, 8, and 9. Following the apex court order, the Education Department stopped the exams of these classes, which began on March 11. This was the third twist within a week to the saga of whether or not students of these classes can be made to write a board examination.
Now, the case is back in the High Court, with the Supreme Court asking the division bench to adjudicate the government’s appeal on its merits, that is, to pass final judgment on the appeal by deciding whether the March 6 judgement of the single-judge bench requires interference or not.
4. Accused in pro-Pakistan slogan case granted bail
The Additional City Metropolitan Magistrate on Thursday granted bail to the three accused in the pro-Pakistan sloganeering case registered by the Vidhana Soudha police following the victory celebrations of Rajya Sabha election candidate Syed Naseer Hussain on March 4.
Amol Palekar advocates against pre-censorship in films and theatre, urging the government to protect artists' freedom of expression.
BJP legislators demand release of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, threatening protests and border blockade if demands not met.
Odisha loses 790 elephants in a decade, with electrocution as the leading cause of unnatural deaths.
ASI issues notice to halt construction at Arya Akshobhya Teertha Mutt near Rameshwara temple in Shivamogga.
Madurai High Court orders removal of encroachments along Madurai-Dindigul highway, Corporation and Highways Department officials conduct joint operation.
Maharashtra Congress chief initiates signature campaign for return of ballot papers, sparking nationwide debate on EVMs.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari on Wednesday directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to undertake periodical maintenance of NH66 without giving room for complaints.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw updates Lok Sabha on Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. shareholding, Goa willing to relinquish.
One dies, eight hospitalised after inhaling HCL fumes at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli district. About 400 litres of HCL leaked from the reactor-cum-receiver tank at Unit-III of the company, which affected nine workers, says Collector. While the condition of six of them is stable, two are on ventilator support. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directs authorities to provide advanced treatment to the victims. Home Minister Anitha expresses anger over repeated such incidents.
Parents and social workers in Thoothukudi request new Anganwadi buildings due to unsafe conditions in current rental buildings.
Delta districts face heavy rainfall, prompting coordinated efforts to mitigate damages, with NDRF teams deployed for rescue operations.