After Report About CM's Son's Temple During Lockdown, Karnataka High Court Issues Strict Directions For Enforcement

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued the direction on going through the report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru district which stated that son of the Chief Minister of Karnataka, BY Vijendra and his family members, visited the district of Mysore from another district and entered the Nanjundeshwara temple on May 18.

The court in its order said "What is stated in the report should be eyeopener for everyone, which would include authorities of temples and political leaders. If the order passed from time to time by the State Executive Committee under the Disaster Management Act of 2005, directs that the temple shall be kept closed for members of the public the said order has to be scrupulously complied with by all concerned without any exceptions."

It added "The present order is in force till June 21, while issuing subsequent orders, the SEC under the DM act will ensure that stringent measures are provided and taken against those who violate the ban on entry into temples."

The court had directed the Deputy Commissioner to file its inquiry report after a memo was filed by Advocate Geeta Misra bringing to the notice of the court about the alleged incident allowing a political leader to perform puja, a temple was opened in violation of the directions issued by the government.

The report further indicated that the photograph relied on the media report in the memo was of 2018 and not that of May 18, 2021. Advocate G R Mohan appearing for the applicant accepted that there was a mistake committed by the applicant and thereafter the applicant will be careful while producing documents.

The court also directed the state government to ensure that complaints made to the grievance redressal mechanism shall be promptly attended to in as much as the violation of the provisions of Karnataka Epidemic Act, especially in relation to Covid Appropriate Behaviour is concerned as it has direct nexus with spread of epidemic.

The court said "We are putting state and other authorities to notice, this court may take stringent action if found that complaints made to the grievance redressal mechanism are not addressed promptly and action is not taken."