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New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the Karnataka government to maintain status quo for a few days, added that Ganesh Chaturthi puja can be held somewhere else, instead at Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet.

A bench headed by Indira Banerjee told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, to maintain the status quo for a few days.

"You have the puja somewhere else. And go back to high court," said the bench, also comprising justices A.S. Oka and M.M. Sundresh.

The bench emphasised that in the meanwhile, both parties as of today maintain status quo and disposed of the petitions filed by The Central Muslim Association of Karnataka and Karnataka State Board of AUQAF against the Karnataka government.

The petitioners had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Karnataka High Court order, which allowed Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet.

The matter was referred to a 3-Judge following "difference of opinion" between the two-judge comprising justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing one of the petitioners, said the state government wants to change the 200 years' status quo.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, also appearing for the petitioner, said it is an Idgah land and should not be used for other religion's festivals.

During the hearing, the bench noted that for 200 years, no other religious activity was performed on the land in question, so why not the status quo?

"For 200 years, whatever was not held, let it be," said the bench.

The top court was informed that "the Karnataka government has allowed Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Idgah maidan in Bengaluru for tomorrow and day after".

Last week, the high court had granted permission to hold Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet.

The high court had said the government can take a call to permit the festival on the ground.

The court passed the order after the state government filed an appeal challenging the August 25 interim order to maintain status quo.

The high court modified the interim order and allowed the state government to consider and pass appropriate orders on applications seeking use of the land in question for holding religious and cultural activities for a limited period from August 31 onwards.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 30 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayam on Tuesday interrupted and "corrected" Health Minister Veena George when she was speaking on anti-rabies vaccines in the Assembly bringing applause from the Opposition.

The incident comes at a time when speculation about minister George being replaced is rife over her alleged "poor" performance.

Geroge was responding to a question on increase in rabid dog attacks and death of people who took the anti-rabies vaccine. When she said that a report would be submitted on this by an expert committee, Vijayan intervened and asked her to form a panel to find out the efficacy of the anti-rabies vaccine which was instantly appreciated by the Congress-led opposition.

Notably, the opposition was upset about the minister side-stepping on the issue of the efficacy of the anti-rabies vaccines that was being supplied to the state-run medical centres.

In a related development, senior Congress legislator and former State Minister A.P.Anilkumar had written to Speaker M.B.Rajesh objecting to the manner in which the health minister was responding to questions raised by MLAs.

In his letter, he had mentioned questions pertaining to George's portfolio.

This morning, the Kerala Legislature secretariat informed Anilkumar that the Speaker had spoken to the Minister and told her that this should not be repeated.

George was a TV journalist when in 2016 she got a surprise call from the CPI-M and she was fielded as their candidate from the Aranmula assembly constituency in Pathanamthitta district and she won defeating Congress veteran and sitting legislator Sivadasan Nair.

In 2021, she again defeated Nair and her selection as a cabinet minister and that too Health came as a shocker to all.

But for some reason, George has found the going tough and there are reports of an "unfriendly" office of hers contributing to the speculation that she might be made the Speaker and Rajesh inducted as a Minister.

Reportedly, Vijayan is mulling a minor re-jig, after M.Govindan was on Sunday nominated as the new state secretary of the party after secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan decided to step down as a Minister and an MLA owing to his failing health.

On Friday, the CPI-M top brass is scheduled to meet to finalise the reshuffle.

--IANS
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Chitradurga (Karnataka), Aug 30 (IANS) Karnataka Police on Tuesday produced two minor victims before the Chitradurga District and Session's court to record their statements in connection with the sexual assault case against prominent Lingayat seer Dr Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.

The girls will record their statements under CrPC Section 164 before the judge in confidential proceedings.

If they stick to their earlier allegations against the accused seer, the police department will initiate the arrest proceedings, according to sources.

The sourves also explained that the seer will be subjected to the medical test.

Meanwhile, a group of 20 religious seers held a press conference in the premises of the Murugha mutt in Chitradurga, claiming that the accused is innocent and he is being framed.

Basavakumara Swamiji, Madara Channaiah Sree, Shanthaveera Sri, Immadi Siddarameshwara Sri extendED their support to him.

"Murugha seer brought about a revolution in the society in terms of breaking the shackles of caste. The charges are being made by vested interests who are not tolerant of his progress," Madara Channaiah Sree stated.

"It is a conspiracy. The true facts will come out in the investigation. "Since, the case is in the court, we don't want to talk any further," Immadi Siddarameshwara Sri said, adding that the "decision to nominate his predecessor and administrator is the prerogative of Swamiji".

--IANS
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