HC tells govt to invite damage claims from members of the public
BENGALURU:
Retired High Court Justice HS Kempanna has, by the order of the Karnataka HC on Friday, been appointed claims commissioner with respect to the destruction of property during the August 11 riots in the DJ Halli and KG Halli police limits.
A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi has directed the state government to issue a formal appointment letter within a week and also provide him with the required office infrastructure.
The court has directed the government to invite damage claims from affected members of the public along with any audio/video evidence they may have. Police and other government officials may also submit such evidence to the claims commissioner.
The bench said that given the pandemic situation, the claims commissioner may conduct video proceedings in line with the relevant rules framed by the court.
The state government, in its petition to the HC for a claims commissioner, had relied on a Supreme Court precedent in the matter.
Narrating the sequence of events, the government petition said that on the evening of August 11, a 300-strong mob gathered near the DJ Halli police station to protest an allegedly provocative post by one Naveen on Facebook. An FIR was lodged after a complaint by one Firdous Pasha, but despite that, the mob refused to disperse. The mob then went to the residence of Pulakeshinagar MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy and vandalized it.
The mob grew in size and resorted to arson and assault of police personnel at the DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations. More than 80 police personnel were injured, while the mob also destroyed and looted private property. The petition said 64 criminal cases have been registered so far.
CM on appointment
Meanwhile, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted: “Our govt approached Hon’ble High Court to appoint Claims Commissioner to assess the damage caused to public & private properties during riots in KJ Halli & DJ Halli, Bengaluru. Today, Hon’ble HC appointed Justice HS Kempanna (Retd) as Claims Commissioner.”
Our Govt approached Hon'ble High Court to appoint Claims Commissioner to assess the damages caused to public & private properties during riots in KJ Halli & DJ Halli, Bengaluru. Today, Hon'ble HC appointed Justice HS Kempanna (Retd) as Claims Commissionerhttps://t.co/vKQPGEtdxK
— B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) August 28, 2020
