Notice to State on plea against Manippady’s appointment

The High Court on Thursday directed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to consider within six months a petition against Kannada film Manjunatha BA LLB by treating the plea as a representation

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a petition questioning the legality of Anwar Manippady’s appointment as chairman of the Karnataka State Minority Commission and his continuation in the post despite the commission’s term having expired.

Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar passed the order on a petition by Mohammed Wazir Baig, a resident of Bangalore.

The petitioner pointed out that the State government constituted the commission on February 25, 2009 by issuing a gazette notification and appointed Kusro Kureshi as its chairman. However, on November 25, 2011 the government issued a notification appointing Mr. Manippady as its chairman.

It has been contended in the petition that Mr. Manippady’s appointment was illegal as the government till date had not issued a notification in the gazette on his appointment.

The petitioner also claimed that though the commission’s term ended on February 24, 2012, Mr. Manippady continues to exercise his power as chairman of the commission when all other members had desisted from functioning as members. It has been complained in the petition that Mr. Manippady has been issuing “summons” to private persons and public servants asking them to appear before him for certain inquiry even after the expiry of the commission’s term.

The government has not initiated any action against Mr. Manippady despite giving a complaint in this regard on December 24, 2012, the petitioner pointed out while seeking a direction to the government to initiate action against him.

Film row

The High Court on Thursday directed the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to consider within six months a petition against Kannada film Manjunatha BA LLB by treating the plea as a representation.

Justice Ram Mohan Reddy passed the order while disposing of a petition filed last year against the Jaggesh starrer.

In his petition, a city-based advocate, M.K. Vijayakumar, had complained that promos of the film shown on TV depicts that the hero is in the habit of consuming liquor and comes to court in an inebriated state. The hero’s character shows advocates in poor light, he said.