Dakshina Kannada among 10 districts to get special courts for women
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
 
Bangalore, Sep 10: Coastal Dakshina Kannada district is among the 10 districts of Karnataka, which will have special courts as per the decision of the State Government for setting up 10 special courts for trying cases of crimes and atrocities against women.

Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, who addressed the media in Bangalore on Tuesday, said two courts have been sanctioned to Bangalore Urban, one each in Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Dakshina Kannada, Gulbarga, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysore and Ramangaram districts.

The State Government had also decided to set up special courts following the alleged gang rape of a student of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, the minister said.

Each of the special courts has been sanctioned 37 staff, including a district judge, the minister said.

Stringent law enforcement and speedy disposal of cases can bring down the number of crimes against women and act as a deterrent, he said.

Jayachandra said action would be taken against those who indulged in indecent or obscene portrayal of women in advertisement and cinema.

However, law has not been strictly enforced due to various reasons, he said.

The minister promised to write to Home Minister K J George and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Umashree for strict enforcement of the law.

To reduce crimes against women, a gazetted officer to be appointed to monitor portrayal of women in advertisement and cinema.

A lawyers’ delegation has urged him to strictly enforce the law in the interest of the women and their safety,  Jayachandra said.

The legislature panel on women and child welfare has observed that increasing incidents of rape, atrocity, domestic violence, dowry harassment, child marriage and exhibition of obscene films in the State.

As per the existing law, punishment up to one year of imprisonment and Rs 1 lakh fine would be imposed on those who portray women in obscene manner in advertisement, billboards etc.
 

Mekedatu Project is as per CWDT Order
 
Meanwhile, the state government’s  proposal to build a dam near Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk in Ramanagaram district to generate hydro-electric power is well within the framework of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal’s (CWDT) order, the minister said.

Noting that construction of the dam and hydel project would not violate the CWDT’s order, Jayachandra said “there may not be any legal problems, including objections from the Tribunal, in utilising additional Cauvery water.

There is a possibility of setting up three hydel projects by storing nearly 50 tmcft of water.

The water can be used to generate power after which it can be let into Tamil Nadu.

He said the Central Government has issued a gazette notification on the CWDT order and the State Government would ensure adequate flow of water to Tamil Nadu while planning to construct the dam.

The State would seek the Central Government’s permission to build the dam and hydro power project and later it would commence the work on the project, he said.

A proposal would be shortly sent to the Union government, he said pointing out that the State Cabinet had already discussed the project in detail. It was also discussed with experts and state advocates, he said.