State to remove eunuch' from Karnataka Police Act

Bengaluru: The state government on Tuesday submitted to the High Court that it would remove the word ‘eunuch’ from section 36A of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. At present the Sec 36 A entitled ‘power to regulate eunuchs’, empowers the commissioner to pass orders to maintain a register on names and places of all the transgenders, who are reasonably suspected of kidnapping or emasculating boys, committing unnatural offences, or any other offences.

Meanwhile the state on Tuesday sought more time to consider amending the section. A division bench, headed by acting Chief Justice SK Mukherjee, granted time to the state to submit amended provisions of the Act and posted the next hearing after six months.

The petitioners, Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum have approached the court contending that the state government has inserted the said section of the Act in April 2011 and that the insertion of the provision in the Act has further marginalised the transgender community.

Adi plea: Judge recuses
Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri on Tuesday recused himself from hearing the petition filed by Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi, who has challenged the legality of the motion adopted by the Assembly before verifying valid reasons and sufficient grounds for his ouster. The single judge bench, which had heard the matter, recused from hearing the matter, and referred the matter to High Court Registrar

Justice Adi has contended that the motion initiated against him stating that it amounts to violation of procedure laid down in the amended Lokayukta Act. The state government in its objections stated that the motion moved against Justice Adi was only received by the Speaker of the Legislative Assemby and was not admitted by him.