Belagavi, 18 Dec 

The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill unanimously.

The bill was introduced in the House by the Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa on 12 December.

The bill defines social boycott as a gesture or an act, whether oral or written, of any social discrimination between the members of the community.

The bill proposes three years of imprisonment and a fine extending up to Rs 1 lakh. It also prohibits people from gathering, assembling, or congregating at any time and at any place with the view or intention to deliberate on the issue of imposing social boycott on any member of the community. 

It prohibits gathering to impose a social boycott.

The bill also says that if the accused is convicted, the court should hear the victim on the quantum of sentence and then only pass the sentence.

During the discussion, Mahadevappa termed the bill historic and said the aim of the bill is to bring equality in society and to protect backward people from further getting marginalised through social boycott.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a statement that the bill aims to prevent “social boycotts, harassment, and various forms of punishments imposed by caste panchayats.”

The BJP and the JD(S) MLAs welcomed the bill.

State BJP President BY Vijayendra said in a statement that both the Opposition and the ruling party express “non-partisan support” for the bill. 

“We must eradicate the scourge of untouchability from society,” he said. 

Can’t change BMIC corridor because of SC verdict: DKS  

DyCM DK Shivakumar said that the government can’t make any changes to the Bengaluru Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) in view of the Supreme Court ruling. “The project was approved in 1995 when HD Deve Gowda was the chief minister,” Shivakumar said. Congress MLC Madhu Made Gowda had asked if the BMIC project was required in view of the new National Highway 75. “A three-member bench of Supreme Court has passed an order to allow completion of BMIC in its original form. Hence, the government can’t make any changes,” Shivakumar said. 

88 police booked for criminal activities: HM 

Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said criminal cases have been registered against 88 police personnel and officers for their alleged involvement in criminal activities. He said the accused have been arrested and suspended, and will be dismissed from service if the charges are proved. Parameshwara was replying to a question raised by MLC TA Saravan in the Legislative Council.

I haven’t got calls from jail: DKS dismisses preferential treatment

DyCM DK Shivakumar dismissed the notion that some inmates were receiving preferential treatment in prisons across the State. BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur raised the issue of prisoners in jails having access to electronic gadgets including telephones, referring to a newspaper article linking a call to the DyCM. “I don’t receive any such hotline calls from jails,” Shivakumar responded. “I don’t know what the media has carried. I have been a minister for Prisons and I know what transpires in jails. Don’t link that to me.”