Ward panels: BBMP to give details to Karnataka High Court

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike on Wednesday  stated before the High Court that 198 Ward Committees have been constituted. The advocate for the BBMP also said that it will file an affidavit with the report on the procedure and broad criteria followed by the BBMP for the constitution of ward committees, within two weeks or by next date of hearing.

The High Court directed the palike to abide by its declaration. "On the aspect of verification of pourakarmikas, as the grievance has been voiced that the list is inflated or some photo identities are not available, when we wanted to know the response of the palike, Mr Sarfaraz Khan, special commissioner, has reported that within two weeks, the verification of the list of pourakarmikas will be completed and the report shall be submitted to this court within two weeks," the court observed. The matter has been posted to August 8.

Earlier, the High Court had directed the BBMP to constitute ward committees within one month. 

Plea dismissed
The High Court on Wednesday dismissed as withdrawn the habeas corpus petition filed by Archana, the wife of Prashanth, an accused in the kidnap bid case of Vinay Bidare, the personal assistant of BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa.

She had sought directions to the police to produce her husband before the court. The police submitted that the Whitefield force on July 13 arrested Prashanth near Chamundi Hills in Mysuru. Later, he was produced before a lower court as he was wanted in several criminal cases, and the court granted police custody of the accused for further investigation. Following the submission, the court dismissed the plea after the petitioner withdrew the habeas corpus plea.

Gaming policy approved
The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics Policy 2017-22. The policy was brought out in 2012, valid for five years and the policy was now expiring. The Cabinet decided to continue the policy for another five years, with some additions arising from innovation in the field, Mr Jayachandra said.