New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday extended the stay till July 22 on the Karnataka High Court order that stopped the broadcast of Kannada news channel ‘Power TV’ over televising alleged sexual scandals involving some senior JD(S) politicians.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for the Centre, that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was abroad and adjourned the hearing until July 22.

The bench said, meanwhile, its earlier order of July 12 granting stay on the Karnataka High Court’s decision will remain in force.

Earlier, the bench observed that the case against the channel seemed to be driven by “sheer political vendetta”. While staying the high court order, the bench said the case against the news channel was prima facie aimed at stopping it from airing allegations of sex scandals involving political figures.

During the hearing on Monday, the bench asked the Centre whether the authorities ask the channels to shut down for the period when their pleas seeking renewal of licenses are pending.

“Tell us in the last 3 years which were such channels who had applied for renewal but were not allowed to continue pending the decision of renewal,” the bench asked.

On July 12, the bench had noted that the court will protect the freedom of speech and expression. It had said the channel was entitled to continue with its broadcast which should not have been stopped.

The Centre had said the case pertained to unauthorisedly giving licence by the original licensee to another person.

The Centre can certainly proceed with the consequential process after the issuance of show cause notice, the bench said.

“The more we hear you, the more we are convinced that it is political vendetta, let me be very honest. That is why we are inclined to protect the freedom of speech and expression,” it had said.

The bench said the channel wanted to broadcast some allegations regarding the sex scandal in the state.

“The idea was to completely blank out his voice, this court is duty-bound to allow him. This is sheer political vendetta and nothing else. Therefore this court will be failing in its duty if we do not protect (the channel),” it said.

The channel allegedly broadcast news related to the recent sex scandal involving JD(S) leaders Prajwal Revanna and others.

The channel assailed a division bench order of the Karnataka High Court. The division bench had refused to interfere with the stay order passed by the single bench against the broadcast of the channel.

The high court had passed the order on petitions filed by JD(S) MLC H M Ramesh Gowda and others.

On June 26, the single judge bench of the high court stayed the operation of the channel. The Centre issued a show-cause notice to the channel pertaining to certain allegations related to its licence.

Senior JD(S) MLA C B Suresh Babu

Bengaluru: Senior JD(S) MLA C B Suresh Babu is the party’s leader in the Karnataka Assembly, Speaker U T Khader said on Monday.

The position fell vacant following JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s election to the Lok Sabaha.

“JD(S) state President H D Kumaraswamy on July 14 has given a letter stating that Chikkanayakanahalli MLA C B Suresh Babu has been appointed as the JD(S) party leader (in the Assembly) and the same has to be recognised. Accordingly, Suresh Babu has been recognised as the JD(S) party leader,” Khader told the House.

Kumaraswamy resigned as the MLA from Channapatna segment after his election to the Lok Sabha in the recent polls.

 Artificial Intelligence-enabled cameras with facial recognition technology have now been installed in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that will record arrival and exit time of members, as well as the duration of their presence in the House.

KGF Congress MLA Roopakala Shashidhar was the first legislator to be recorded by the cameras on arrival at the Assembly for the monsoon session, which began today as the new system became operational.

The first MLA to be captured exiting was Tiptur’s Shadakshari of Congress.

Speaker U T Khader noted that there is a practice of recognising MLAs who come early to the Assembly before the quorum bells are rung and their names are read out in appreciation by the Chair.

“Some senior legislators like Araga Jnanendra, Basangouda Patil Yatnal (of BJP) and some senior Ministers had made a request that some legislators, despite coming a bit late, sit through the proceedings till six or eight (PM), but no one takes note of it and it is an injustice,” the Speaker said.

He added: “So, for the first time we have installed Artificial Intelligence cameras, which will take note of — what time a member arrives and leaves, and for how long he or she was present in the Assembly. Information regarding this comes to the Assembly Secretary’s system by the end of the day. There will be data.”

According to officials, the initiative is part of the effort to improve attendance of legislators and their participation during the session.

Meanwhile, aimed at giving a facelift to the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here, gates at the west entrance of the Assembly hall has been renovated in the first phase, replacing iron grilled gates with a large and carved grand rosewood door.

It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today along with a plaque having the preamble of the constitution.

The Speaker said: “there is national and international respect for our Vidhana Soudha building. National and international level delegations and tourists come to Vidhana Soudha. It is our duty to make it look good and respectable from both inside and outside. This is the first phase, more work has to be done, I seek your (members) suggestions.”

Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and other legislators complimented the Speaker for the initiative.

Bengaluru With opposition parties targeting his government over alleged financial irregularities in a state-run corporation in both Houses of Karnataka legislature and planning to raise the Mysuru Urban Development Authority ‘scam’ issue, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said he has answers to their “every word” and it is not in his nature to sit quietly, afraid of politically malicious criticism.

He also accused BJP and JD(S) of adopting “hit and run” tactics by lying before the media, and asserted that it will not be allowed in the House (Legislative Assembly/Council).

“BJP and JD(S) leaders, I have an answer for every word of yours. It’s not like lying before the media so far, standing somewhere far away and shooting a bullet in the air. This is the House, your hit and run has no place here,” he added.

The illegal money transfer issue, involving Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd, came to the fore, after its accounts superintendent, Chandrashekhar P, died by suicide on May 26, leaving behind a death note.

The note alleged unauthorised transfer of Rs 187 crore belonging to the Corporation from its bank account, and from that, Rs 88.62 crore was illegally moved to various accounts allegedly belonging to “well-known” IT companies and a Hyderabad-based cooperative bank among others.

Following allegations against him in connection with the scam, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra tendered his resignation on June 6. He is currently under Enforcement Directorate custody.

The MUDA case is linked to fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by the Authority, which involves plots given to Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathi.

The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where MUDA developed a residential layout.

The controversial scheme envisages allotting 50 per cent of developed land to the land loser in lieu of undeveloped land acquired for forming layouts.

BJP and JD(S) have demanded for Siddaramaiah’s resignation and CBI probe into both these cases.

Reacting to BJP demanding CM’s resignation in connection with the MUDA case, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said: “let them raise their issue in the Assembly, we will respond to it, whether it is MUDA or any other case.”

“All scams were done by them (BJP) and they are now blaming us. We are taking several measures to clean up things after coming to power,” he told reporters here.

On BJP terming the government’s move to constitute a Commission, headed by Justice P N Desai, a retired Karnataka High Court judge, to probe the MUDA alleged scam, an “eyewash” and demanding CBI probe, Shivakumar said: “Should we obey whatever they say? People have given us the mandate. We will do what is good for the state.”