Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday gave his assent to the ordinance that gave effect to the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly known as the anti-conversion bill. The bill was passed in the assembly in December last year but was pending before the council where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is one short of a majority. The Karnataka government promulgated the Karnataka Protection of Right To Freedom of Religion Ordinance on May 12.The governor's nod came a day after the Bengaluru Archbishop, Peter Machado along with a Christian delegation called on him requesting him to hold back the ordinance and not to give his approval. According to the government note, the ordinance is for protection of right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means. "Whereas the Karnataka legislative assembly and the Karnataka legislative council are not in session and the honourable governor of Karnataka is satisfied that the circumstances exist which render it necessary for him to take immediate action to promulgate the Ordinance for the purposes hereinafter appearing,” the gazzette notification read.The ordinance says that any converted person, his parents, brother, sister or any other person who is related to him by blood, marriage or adoption or in any form associated or colleague may lodge a complaint of such conversion. The violators will be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term of three years but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine of Rs 25,000. With regard to mass conversion, the punishment stretches up to the imprisonment of either description for a term of three years but which may extend to ten years and "shall also be liable to fine of Rs one lakh". "The court shall also grant appropriate compensation payable by the accused to the victim of said conversion which may extend to maximum of Rs five lakh and shall be in addition to fine," the ordinance read. Further, whoever having been previously convicted of an offence under this ordinance is again convicted of an offence punishable under this ordinance will be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term of not less than five years and will also be liable to a fine of Rs two lakh. The offences committed under the ordinance are cognisable and non-bailable. Whoever desires to convert his religion, will have to give a declaration in Form-I at least thirty days in advance to the District Magistrate or the Additional District Magistrate specially authorised by the District Magistrate of his residing district or place of birth within the state.The religious converter who performs conversion ceremony for converting any person of one religion to another religion, should give thirty days advance notice in Form-2 of such intended conversion, to the district magistrate or the additional district magistrate, specially authorised by the District Magistrate of the district from where the proposed converter hails, the ordinance said. The District Magistrate, after receiving the information will notify proposed religious conversion on the notice board of the office of the District Magistrate and in the office of the Tahsildar calling for objections. If any objections are received within 30 days, he will get an inquiry conducted through officials of Revenue or Social Welfare Department with regard to genuine intention, purpose and cause of the proposed conversion."If the District Magistrate comes to a conclusion based on the said inquiry of the commission of an offence under this Ordinance, he shall cause the concerned police authorities to initiate criminal action for contravention of the provisions of section 3," the ordinance said. Machado on Monday alleged that some groups in Karnataka want to sideline minorities. The Archbishop had said that approaching court will be one of the options to stop the promulgation of the ordinance."If the ordinance is promulgated, then, we surely have to see ways and means of finding resources for us from different sides and legal route is also one of the things we may take to," he told reporters on Monday. The Congress Karnataka unit had been opposing the bill calling it "draconian" and "anti-constitution".—PTI

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday gave his assent to the ordinance that gave effect to the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly known as the anti-conversion bill.

K'taka guv gives nod to anti-conversion ordinance, violators to be jailed

Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Election Commission on Tuesday told the high court of Karnataka that the state government had taken away its powers, making it unable to hold elections to zilla panchayat and taluk panchayats as mandated by the Supreme Court. A vacation division bench of the high court comprising Justice SG Pandit and Justice MG Uma heard the Election Commission's petition on Tuesday. Following last week's Supreme Court direction to hold the ZP-TP elections immediately, the commission filed a memo before the high court to hear the pending petition citing emergency. The high court asked the commission's counsel why a memo was filed before it instead of following the Supreme Court's direction.The counsel submitted to the court that the state government had withdrawn the Election Commission's power on delimitation of constituencies and drawing up the reservation list. Without these the State EC was unable to announce the election schedule. The state had formed a separate panel for the delimitation and reservation even though the EC had completed the exercise on its own. The EC had challenged this before the high court.The court observed that a detailed examination of the petition was necessary and adjourned the hearing to May 23.—PTI

The Karnataka State Election Commission on Tuesday told the high court of Karnataka that the state government had taken away its powers, making it unable to hold elections to zilla panchayat and taluk panchayats as mandated by the Supreme Court.

Karnataka govt has taken away our powers, EC tells high court

Bengaluru: In the wake of Karnataka government passing an ordinance against religious conversion, the Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado on Monday said the government was influenced by certain groups to sideline minorities. “Perhaps, the government is influenced or forced by certain groups, certain categories of people, who are forcing the government to sideline the minorities,” Machado told reporters after meeting Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot., A delegation comprising six people, including bishops and priests, called on Gehlot at the Raj Bhavan and appealed to him to stop the promulgation of the ordinance which was recently passed by the cabinet. To a query on the possibility of approaching court, Machado said that has not been decided, but it would be one of the options to stop the promulgation of the anti-conversion ordinance.“If the ordinance is promulgated, then, we surely have to see ways and means of finding resources for us from different sides and legal route is also one of the things we may take to," he said. Wondering as to why the government passed the ordinance, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party government is a good one. “I must say Karnataka government is a good government in the whole of India. Somehow, the question you are asking me is like poking me,” said the archbishop while replying to a query. Appreciating the governor for being cordial and hearing them patiently, Machado said, “We trust the governor to report our feelings and, as far as possible, to stop passing this ordinance because we have mentioned clearly that this is not necessary.” He said Christians are a peace-loving people and there have not been any incident of conversion reported in the past two or three months. Also, there were no incidents of serious attacks, he added. The archbishop said the government might have sent a message to those creating trouble which, he felt, was a good move. “But, passing the ordinance all-of-a-sudden came as a little surprise as well as sad for us because India is a democratic country and Karnataka has got democratic traditions,” Machado said. The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill was passed by the legislative assembly in December last, but it is pending for passage in the legislative council wherein the ruling BJP is one short of majority.The Bill that was passed by the legislative assembly provides for protection of right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means. It moots imprisonment from three to five years with a fine of Rs 25,000, while for violation of provisions with respect to minors, women, SC/ST, the offenders will face imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000. The Bill makes also provisions for an accused to pay up to Rs 5 lakh as compensation to those who were made to convert, and with regard to cases of mass conversion there shall be a 3-10 year jail-term and a fine of up to Rs one lakh.It states that any marriage, which has happened for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice-versa by the man of one religion with the woman of another, either by converting himself before or after marriage or by converting the woman before or after marriage, shall be declared as null and void by the family court.—PTI

In the wake of Karnataka government passing an ordinance against religious conversion, the Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado on Monday said the government was influenced by certain groups to sideline minorities.

Christian delegation meets K'taka guv against anti-conversion ordinance

Mandya: &nbsp;Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday urged young doctors to dedicate their service to the people of the country. Bommai attended the convocation ceremony of Sri Adichunchanagiri Medical College here on Monday. Speaking at the convocation ceremony, Chief Minister Bommai said, "Learning is a continuous process. In real life, one has to face examination first followed by learning. The medical profession gives the power to heal others' pain.The medical profession is a noble profession, a Godly profession. You have been chosen by God to serve humanity. The doctor should have Godly compassion, kindness to serve."Referring to the connection between spirituality and governance since ancient times, Bommai said, "It is possible to make the state prosperous with spiritual and native knowledge. It is the objective of the State government to serve the weaker sections. I have a good team of Ministers to deliver on development works in the state. Health and education sectors have been accorded top priority. About 7,000 new classrooms are being built and 100 primary health centres are being upgraded."He expressed happiness that the event was being held on Buddha Jayanti Day and said Buddha discarded worldly pleasures to seek knowledge and it is most appropriate that the convocation was being held on this auspicious day. Referring to conferring Doctorate degree to Adichunchanagiri Mutt Seer Nirmalananda Swamiji by Rajiv Gandhi University, Bommai said, "it is most appropriate as he is a unique Guru in science and spirituality. The Seer has expressed his desire to build Science Museum here and the State government will extend complete cooperation including the monetary grants to make it a reality."—ANI

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday urged young doctors to dedicate their service to the people of the country.

Karnataka CM calls upon young doctors to serve people

Bengaluru:&nbsp;Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he will soon take a call on his visit to Swiss ski resort town of Davos, to take part in World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting.He said he will have to decide on the days and schedule considering the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls, also the possibility of local body polls being announced."I will decide regarding the Davos visit today. I'm one among the two Chief Ministers who have got invitation for Davos, it is an important event, but as these elections have come now, for how many days I should go, when to go, I will decide," Bommai told reporters in response to a question.Bommai and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy are expected to be in Davos for the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2022 from May 22-26, while Maharashtra minister and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray as also Telangana minister and the state chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's son K T Rama Rao would be there.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some senior union ministers are also expected to participate in the WEF's Davos summit, one of the most high-profile congregations of the world leaders globally, but there has been no official announcement so far regarding their participation.Bommai today will be participating in the Karnataka BJP core committee meeting."Our party leaders- our in charge (General Secretary) Arun Singh, Santosh ji (National General Secretary)- are coming for the core committee meeting where Yediyurappa, Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar (former CMs) and other senior leaders will be present," Bommai said.Several issues including the political situation, also strategy and candidates for Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls will be discussed at the core committee meeting, he said.Biennial elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka and two each graduates' and teachers' constituencies of the state Legislative Council will be held on June 10 and 13 respectively.Also biennial Election to the Karnataka Legislative Council by the members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will be held on June three.Responding to a question about any communication from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding cabinet expansion or rejig as he had said BJP central leaders will decide and inform in a couple of days, Bommai asked, "can you count like that (exactly) in politics?"The Chief Minister who on Wednesday had met Shah in Delhi to discuss the much awaited expansion or rejig of his Cabinet had said that the BJP central leadership would communicate its decision in this regard after discussions, and that "anything may happen at any time.—PTI

 Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he will soon take a call on his visit to Swiss ski resort town of Davos, to take part in World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting.

Bommai to decide on attending WEF's annual meet

 Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he will soon take a call on his visit to Swiss ski resort town of Davos, to take part in World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting.

