BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday asked the central government to make its stand clear on the state government's proposal to recognise the Lingayat, Veerashaiva Lingayat (Believers of Basava Tattava) community as a religious minority.
The court was hearing a batch of petitions, questioning the state Minority Commission’s order to set up a committee of experts to study independent religion status for Lingayats.
The Additional Solicitor General, representing the central government, submitted that they have not yet received any information about the recommendation sent by the state government and sought time to know about it from the concerned department.
The court, however, took exception to the submission, and asked the Centre to make its stand clear without any further delay.
Meanwhile, the Advocate General appearing for the state government, said, "On March 22, the state government issued a notification with regard to minority status to Lingayat, Veerashaiva Lingayat (believers of Basava Tattva) and has further recommended it to the Centre."
The high court asked the state to submit it as an affidavit before the court. An advocate appearing for one of the petitioners argued that the state government hurriedly took a decision on the recommendation of the panel of experts to avoid the Election Commission's model code of conduct.
Also another petitioner's advocate argued that the state government has given religious minority status to Lingayats beyond its jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to April 13.
