The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday asked the State government to respond to a petition, which has sought a direction to the State to adopt rotation policy to appoint persons to the post of chairperson of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Krishna S. Dixit issued the direction while adjourning by three weeks further hearing on the petition, filed by one B. Vinod, a resident of Shivamogga.
It has been contended in the petition that only persons belonging to the Muslim community are being appointed as chairperson of the commission and persons from other minority communities like Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhist, and Parsis were not getting opportunities to head the commission.
Since the Muslim population is highest among the six minority communities, persons from Muslim community are being appointed since inception of the commission, it was pointed out to the court based on an endorsement given by the Secretary, Minority Welfare, Haj and Wakf Department.
Overcrowded prison
The High Court has on Tuesday suo motu initiated a PIL petition on the issue of overcrowding of prisons in the State based on a direction issued by the Supreme Court to all the High Courts to find a solution to the problem and non-appointment of staff to prisons by the respective State governments.
The court has adjourned further hearing on the PIL, while asking the government counsel to seek instructions from the authorities concerned on the issues.