Karnataka government told to file affidavit within a week on signboard issue

Board says Yellur is in Maharashtra though it’s part of Karnataka

The signboard installed at the entrance of Yellur village, which indicates that it is part of Maharashtra. The village, however, comes under Belgaum South Assembly and Belgaum Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.

The High Court of Karnataka on Monday directed the State government to file an affidavit within a week about the action to be initiated pertaining to the installation of a controversial signboard that indicates that Yellur village is in Maharashtra though it is part of Karnataka.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice H.G. Ramesh issued the directions, while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Bhimappa Gundappa Gadad, a social worker from Belgaum.

The Bench issued directions after the government advocate pointed out that the issue, being a sensitive one, had repercussions on law and order and therefore, there had been a delay in the decision-making process.

“When the district administration is afraid to remove the board, what will be the fate of the people,” the Bench wondered, while asking the government advocate to discuss the issue with the Deputy Commissioner and file an affidavit by the next date of hearing. The petitioner alleged that the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) had installed the signboard with wrong information that the village, which actually comes under Belgaum South Assembly and Belgaum Lok Sabha constituencies, belongs to Maharashtra.

He also complained in the petition that the district administration had removed a similar signboard during December 2012, but the MES, within a week, installed the signboard with false information.

However, the district administration had not initiated action after that despite several representations being submitted.

Amanath Bank

The High Court on Monday adjourned to July 31 the hearing on the petition related to those in favour of and those against the merger of Amanath Cooperative Bank (ACB) with Canara Bank.

While adjourning the hearing, Justice Ram Mohan Reddy asked the ACB to deliberate on the steps so that large depositors, who have deposits of over Rs. 1 lakh, do not have to sacrifice 18 per cent deduction on their deposits owing to the merger proposal.

The Reserve Bank of India had said that large depositors will have to face 18 per cent cut if the merger had to be viable.

Meanwhile, the court also sought to know the list of defaulters who owe huge amounts to the ACB, which is facing a serious financial crisis.