A division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri, which was hearing a suo motu PIL on air and noise pollution, observered that there is a need to formulate and implement an action plan to deal with this serious issue.

The court asked the State government to chalk out a plan detailing the duties and ways to implement it and responsibilities of the departments and agencies concerned. Further, the court directed the government to constitute a coordination committee with members from all departments and agencies concerned for better implementation of the plan.

The court also asked the state to provide data regarding the average number of vehicles added to the roads every month and data collected at the monitoring centers of pollution control board and number of patients admitted to government hospitals for respiratory ailments in the last three years.

The court further asked BBMP and BMTC to implement strict measures on their own to reduce noise and air pollution immediately and not to wait for the government’s action plan.

Anand Singh’s Bail Plea Rejected

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to former Minister Anand Singh in connection with the missing of iron ore from Belekeri port (Uttara Kannada district) in 2009-10 observing that he may influence the investigation.

Justice R B Budhihal, after hearing the bail plea, withheld the contention of the CBI that he would influence the evidence.

“The material collected by the investigating officer during the investigation, prima facie establishes the involvement of the petitioner in the alleged offence and the material also establishes that there is an illegal extraction of iron ore and alleged transportation of iron ore without following the procedure and without getting the required permits as per law,” Justice Budhihal observed while rejecting the bail plea.

Singh had moved the Special CBI Sessions Court for bail. He had filed a bail petition in the High Court contending that he has no role in the transportation of iron ore from the mines and ports and has been falsely implicated in the matter.

Objecting to the bail plea, the CBI’s counsel alleged that there are evidences against him which reveal his role for threatening the witnesses.

Jaya Case Verdict Likely on Sept 27

The special court conducting the trial in the disproportionate assets against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is likely to pronounce its verdict on September 27. The court had scheduled the pronouncement this week but it was delayed as Jayalalithaa moved an application seeking to pronounce the judgment from the Parappana Agrahara central prisons for security reasons. Special Public Prosecutor Bhavani Singh too made a submission on behalf of the city police to shift the court to central prison premises. Citing the March 2, 2011 clash between media representatives and advocates, Singh said that the application can be considered to ensure law and order. Special Court judge John Micheal Kunha accepted the submission and said the orders will be pronounced on September 27.