In a setback to Karthik Gowda, son of Union Minister for Law D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the High Court of Karnataka on Thursday refused to quash the First Information Report registered against him on the charge of raping and cheating a Kannada actor.

Justice Budihal R.B. passed the order while dismissing the petition filed by Mr. Karthik, claiming that the complaint does not disclose any offence against him.

“When serious allegations are made for the alleged offences under section 376 and 420 of IPC, and in view of the principles enunciated in the decisions of the Supreme Court and also the High Courts, I am of the opinion that it is not a case to quash the proceedings,” the court said.

The actor had lodged a complaint against him last year.

Seer’s plea

A Special Division Bench comprising Justice Anand Byrareddy and Justice N. Ananda, on Thursday, began hearing of an appeal filed by Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swami of the Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt, questioning the single judge’s order of refusing to quash the sexual assault and rape case registered against him.

The Bench was constituted as some judges of regular Division Benches had earlier refused to hear the seer’s plea.

During the hearing, the Special Bench refused to consider statements made by the victim and her husband before the electronic media, while pointing out that considering such material would amount to recognising the media trial.

Also, the Bench orally observed that the proceedings will have to be conducted in-camera if the there is “unpleasant publicity” to this case.

Earlier, counsel for the CID, which is probing the case, said that it is just a matter of time the agency filed charge sheet against the seer.

Further hearing has been adjourned till Friday.

Petition dismissed

The High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL petition that challenged the appointment of S.R. Nayak, a former Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court, as Chairperson of the Karnataka State Law Commission.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K.L. Manjunath and Justice S. Sujatha passed the order after it was pointed to that the post of Law Commission’s Chairman is a not position in the government but only advisory in nature.

Petitioner H.M. Farooq, a social activist, had claimed that the appointment was violating Section 24(3) of the Protection of Human Rights Act as it bars a chairperson or member of the State HRCs for further employment either under State or Union government. Mr. Nayak headed the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.

(The Hindu)