Karnataka HC halts construction work inside Cubbon Park

HIGHLIGHTS

• In an interim order, the high court on Monday restrained Hopcoms from occupying a building it has constructed without prior permission at Cubbon Park. It also directed the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association from proceeding with construction activities at their existing structure in the lung space.

• A division bench gave this direction after hearing a PIL filed by Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association.

• According to the petitioner, both these spots are located within the park area and construction was undertaken without prior permission from the HC, though it is mandatory as per its August 13, 2001 verdict. The next hearing is on March 2.

  HC declines to entertain PIL seeking to restrain media

  The high court on Monday disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a direction for promulgating an ordinance so as to restrain media from referring to the central and state governments after the prime minister and the chief minister, respectively.

  The court said such a writ cannot be issued to the legislature to legislate in a particular manner.

  A Mallikarjuna, a social activist from Tumakuru, had complained against media referring to the Centre and the Karnataka administration as the Modi government and BS Yediyurappa government. According to him, in a democratic set up, no government can be referred to by the name of the head.

  However, the bench said the HC cannot control in what manner media describes the governments.

  Thereafter, the petitioner invited the attention of the court to a press release issued by the government’s own Press Information Bureau (PIB) on May 15, 2020, in which the expression, Modi government, had been used.

  The bench said the petitioner is free to make representation containing his grievances about PIB’s reference.