HC seeks report on beggars’ colony in Bangalore

The high court on Tuesday asked the state government to file a status report within a month, indicating the facilities made available to the inmates of the beggars rehabilitation centre.

Also, the court has sought information on the amount recovered as beggary cess—which is collected with the property tax by various local bodies—and the amount’s expenditure details.

Health Foundation, an NGO run by doctors, had filed a public-interest petition in the high court, contending that the land meant for beggars is being gifted away by the state government to various organisations, including the BDA, for activities not connected with beggars such as convention halls etc.

While hearing the petition, the division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen asked the state government to provide the aforementioned information.

The BDA counsel told the court that instructions will be taken regarding compensation to be given for 19.08 acres of land that has been taken away from the land allotted for the rehabilitation centre. The said piece of land has been used for the formation of the Ring Road. The compensation has not been paid for this acquisition. The case has been renotified to November 7.

Act to help arecanut farmers: HC
The high court has directed the finance ministry to act on a report of the Centre’s team and implement a scheme of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) to help arecanut farmers of Chikkamagalur and Shimoga districts.

The Centre’s team had prepared a report on the problems of the farmers while the Nabard scheme has suggested methods to improve productivity and income of the farmers of Uttara Kannada district. The high court asked the finance ministry to act according to these reports within three months.

The petitioners have filed a public-interest petition, contending that arecanut growers in Udupi, Chikkamagalur and Shimoga districts are committing suicide because of crop failure.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen observed that the finance ministry had recently formulated a scheme to improving productivity and farm income of arecanut farmers in Uttara Kannada district. Nabard was requested to implement the scheme in coordination with the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) convener and other banks.

The division bench observed: “It is indeed a matter of regret that although a scheme has been decided by the ministry of finance, implementation of it has not been computed. There is a public perception that financial institutions are reluctant and extremely slow in giving relief to agriculturists where as relief to industries is given with alacrity... We think that this perception needs to be countered by taking positive steps where due to crop failure, agriculturists are driven to commit suicide.”

HC to hear Mazurier’s bail plea tomorrow
The high court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of bail plea of French consulate official Pascal Mazurier—arrested on charges of raping his four-year-old daughter—to Thursday.