BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Advocate General to seek directions from the state government in handing over the probe into the March 2 violence on the City Civil Court premises to the CBI.Counsel for the petitioner representing Advocate Association, Bangalore, stated that many advocates lost their vehicles during the incident but the police refused to register them. According to the Karnataka State Police Manual, the police conducted the ‘Mahazar’ during the night, even though it should not be done so.He said that the advocates do not expect a free and fair enquiry by the state police. Advocate General S Vijay Shankar said, “What can the police do when a mob attacks? These allegations are biased. The investigation will be done by the special investigation team and DG & IGP will be heading it, it isn’t the kind of matter to be handed over to the CBI.”A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna heard the petition. “You (AG) said that it is a petty incident. How can it be so if it affects the entire state for 10 days? What is the problem in handing over this matter to the CBI?” the bench asked.The bench adjourned prorogued the case till Thursday. Malnutrition: Govt Suggestions Sought The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to suggest names for a high-power committee to take action following the children deaths due to malnutrition at Marakamdinni village in Raichur district. Hearing a PIL filed by one B L Patil and a suo-motu petition, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen said, “You (state government) are providing cattle feed to children; even cattle would hesitate to eat it,” while recommending that healthy food be provided. Justice Sen averred that such children would become a liability. The bench suggested the committee maybe small and prorogued the case till Thursday.HC Upholds Orders on Lake Privatisation Upholding a government notification on the privatisation of lakes in Karnataka, the High Court on Wednesday issued recommendations to develop lakes in the stateThe petitioner, Environment Support Group, in a PIL had contended that the privatisation of management and rehabilitation of lakes in Bangalore was “guided by commercial interests and isn’t desirable”.A division bench comprising Justices K Sreedhar Rao and B S Indrakala directed that inflow and outflow of the lakes should not be affected, and that there should not be unauthorised construction in a 30 m-radius surrounding them. “Sewage must not be let into the lake... the forest department should maintain greenery around the lake.”The bench also added that the preservation and maintenance of the lakes will be under the supervision of BBMP Commissioner in concordance with officials such as the BDA Commissioner, Chief Conservator of Forests and CEO of Lake Development Authority.Meanwhile, the bench upheld the government notification on the privatisation of Agara, Nagawara, Hebbal and Vengaianakere lakes, observing that the Apex court had ordered that lakes can be privatised without affecting its water inflow. A committee in its survey had found that there were no variations in water inflow due to privatisation, said the bench. It added that land surrounding the lake was not completely transferred to contractors, hence there would not be a problem in privatising it.
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