Page 14 - Karnataka

Karnataka HC seeks govt reply on plea against compulsory Kannada in schools

The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to file its objections within three weeks in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the mandatory imposition of Kannada language instruction in CBSE and CISCE-affiliated schools across the state. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi passed the order while hearing a PIL filed in 2023 by Somashekar C and others, a group of parents whose children study in various non-state board schools. The petition questions the constitutional validity of multiple legislative provisions, including the Kannada Language Learning Act, 2015, the Kannada Language Learning Rules, 2017, and the Karnataka Educational Institutions (Issue of No Objection Certificate and Control) Rules, 2022. These enactments, the petitioners contend, make it compulsory for all schools to teach Kannada irrespective of their affiliation. During the hearing, the court was informed that despite the matte

DigiPub moves Karnataka High Court against Centre's takedown directives

DigiPub News India Foundation challenged the Centre's content takedown directives, telling the Karnataka HC that media houses are vulnerable to subjective decisions made by officers issuing orders

Karnataka HC stays BJP's defamation case over ads against CM Siddaramaiah

The Karnataka HC stays trial in BJP's defamation case against CM Siddaramaiah over Congress ads that called previous Bommai government a '40% commission sarkar' and alleged ₹1,500 crore corruption

No option for states to reject bike taxi norms: Rapido cofounder Guntupalli

Says Pavan Guntupalli, co-founder of Rapido: "The guidelines permit states to have an additive policy but not the option to accept or reject the guidelines."

No talks on leadership change: K'taka CM dismisses reshuffle speculation

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday dismissed speculation that he might be deposed. He asserted that the Congress national general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, has categorically ruled out any such move. "Surjewala has clearly said there is no change in the leadership. The leadership issue is not in the discussion. When he said this, why is there speculation? He is in charge of Karnataka, and when he has said there should not be any speculation, the media is still speculating. There is no discussion about this within the party," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. The chief minister said that the party high command's decision would be final and binding. "We agreed to it and conveyed the same multiple times." On questions about a potential power-sharing arrangement, Siddaramaiah said, "It is natural to raise such issues when the government is completing two and a half years, but it does not mean such an agreement was there. If such an agreeme

Siddaramaiah denies exit talk, says he'll serve full term as Karnataka CM

Siddaramaiah rules out midterm exit, says Congress has made no move to replace him as Karnataka CM despite DK Shivakumar's acknowledged ambition

Karnataka's high intra-state disparity shackling broader human development

Karnataka's rapid growth since 1991 hasn't translated into broader human development. It is time for a policy reset

KCET counselling 2025: Option entry begins at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

KEA has begun the KCET Counselling 2025 option entry on July 8, 2025. Candidates can find the direct link via the official website of KEA at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2025: KEA to end registration tomorrow

KEA will end the registration process for Karnataka NEET UG Counselling 2025 tomorrow at 11 am. Candidates can apply for the counselling round via the KEA official website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar's proposed meet with Kharge, Rahul raises eyebrows

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar's proposed meeting with the party high command has raised eyebrows in the political circle. The two leaders are likely to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday evening, sources said. Though Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have said that their Delhi visit pertained to their official work, their meeting with the top leaders assumes significance in the wake of ministers and MLAs indicating leadership change in the state and dissidence in the party. The Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala is camping in Bengaluru and has been holding meetings with the ministers and MLAs to resolve their issues. Surjewala on Tuesday declined to comment on the ongoing discussions regarding the leadership change in the state, suggesting that it is no longer pertinent and also indicated that such decisions rest with the party high

No betting on chance in Karnataka govt's real-money gaming playbook

According to the draft, the use of real money, tokens, virtual currency, or electronic funds for online betting or wagering is also prohibited

Bengaluru-Berlin pact to drive innovation, startup exchange: Priyank Kharge

Kharge posted on 'X' that the declaration was signed in the presence of Franziska Giffey, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, Germany

Karnataka transporters strike over late dues; Anna Bhagya food supply hit

Transporters halt foodgrain movement across Karnataka over unpaid dues spanning six months; halting delivery of govt food scheme

22 sudden deaths in Karnataka’s Hassan: What’s causing this spike in heart attacks?

In just 40 days, Karnataka’s Hassan district has reported 22 sudden deaths linked to heart attacks, many among young and middle-aged people.

Piyush Goyal seeks apology from CM Siddaramaiah over remarks on vaccine

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday demanded that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah apologise to the country's scientists and pharmaceutical sector for his recent remarks linking COVID-19 vaccines to a spate of heart attack deaths in the state and questioned whether he was "running the agenda of foreign forces". Accusing the Chief Minister of "insulting" India's scientists, startups, and its pharmaceutical strength, Goyal said his comments undermine the people who worked tirelessly during the pandemic. According to Goyal, it is "unfortunate" that such remarks are coming from the CM of a country that is known as the 'pharmacy of the world', a country where our startups are expanding and forming an ecosystem, a country where our vaccines were exported on a large scale to other nations. This was possible only because our pharmaceutical companies had the strength and innovation to produce vaccines at a cost of less than Rs 100, he told reporters here. Lauding the pharmaceutical

Karnataka govt suspends 2 officials over unnatural death of 5 tigers

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has suspended two officials for negligence and dereliction of duty in connection with the 'unnatural death' of five tigers in the Male Mahadeshwara(MM) Hills, officials said. The minister has also recommended the suspension of Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Y Chakrapani in connection with the issue, they said. A female tigress and her four cubs were found dead in the Hugyam range of the MM Hills on June 26. Khandre also recommended departmental inquiries into their conduct. Following the incident, authorities arrested three individuals, including the cow's owner, who allegedly poisoned the cow's carcass, suspected of causing the tigers' deaths. Khandre's decision came after reviewing the preliminary report submitted by a high-level inquiry committee headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) Kumar Pushkar, which was set up to probe the incident. The minister has directed the committee to submit its final repor

Best of BS Opinion: University-level funding key to India's R&D targets

Today's opinion page takes a closer look at the RDI scheme, India's R&D lapses, the current account deficit, and whether the RBI's changes to project finance are a good idea in the long run

Karnataka CM's remark on Covid vaccines 'factually incorrect': Biocon chief

Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Thursday opposed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's remarks linking covid-19 vaccines with a spate of heart attack deaths in the state's Hassan district, saying such claims are "'factually incorrect" and "misleading". Siddaramaiah has suggested that the recent heart attack deaths in Hassan district may be linked to the vaccination drive. He had also claimed the vaccines were 'hastily' approved. In a social media post, Shaw said "covid-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were 'hastily' approved is factually incorrect and contributes to public misinformation." "These vaccines have saved millions of lives and, like all vaccines, may cause side effects in a very small number of individuals. It is important to acknowledge the science and data-driven processes behind their ...

Siddaramaiah junks leadership change buzz: 'Will remain CM for 5 years'

Siddaramaiah's comment comes amid some Karnataka Congress leaders demanding leadership change in the state, with many of them backing his deputy DK Shivakumar for the top post

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says he will be in office for 5 years

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that he will be in office for a full five-year term. "Yes, I will be. Why do you have the doubt?" the veteran leader said in response to a question by reporters whether he will be the CM for five years. There has been speculation within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the Chief Minister change later this year, citing power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. However, Shivakumar on Tuesday said there is no discussion on leadership change and stressed on strengthening the hands of CM Siddaramaiah and the party's government in the state. On claims by the BJP and JD(S) leaders that the CM will be replaced, he shot back, "Are they our high command?" "R Ashoka (Leader of Opposition in the Assembly) is a BJP man. B Y Vijayendra (state BJP President) is a BJP man. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy (Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Counci