Bengaluru: The high court on Friday observed how executives can function effectively when officers of the rank of Deputy Commissioners face humiliation and obstructions while discharging their duties.
The court made this observation while hearing a petition seeking anticipatory bail by K. Mari Gowda, an ‘alleged’ associate of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who reportedly humiliated Mysuru Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha in the public after a row over a land issue.
Mari Gowda, who has been accused of intimidating Shikha, is still at large. Meanwhile the state has strongly objected to the bail plea, citing that there are eight to 10 cases pending against him, including some with similar charges of intimidating officials, and that if the accused is granted bail at this stage, it could hamper the investigation. The case stands adjourned.
Bar licence for SC, ST
In a setback to the state government, the High Court has quashed the notification issued by the state government in 2014, easing norms for those belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes for obtaining CL-7 licence to serve liquor in hotels or lodges owned by them.
The draft rules - Karnataka Excise (Sale of Indian and Foreign Liquor) (Amendment) Rules - 2013, issued in 2014, allowed members from the
SC/ST community to easily obtain liquor licences if they own a hotel or a lodge, with 10 double rooms (outside corporation limits) or 15 rooms (within corporation limits). Earlier, it was mandatory to have 20 and 30 rooms respectively to obtain a CL-7 licence.
