Black day was inevitable, say protesting teachers

September 5, 2011

Mangalore, September 5: Demanding to set right the disparity in wages paid to the PU College teachers, Dakshina Kannada district PU College Teachers Association on Monday staged a protest in front of the Office of Deputy Commissioner here.

When MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik tried to convince the agitating teachers to withdraw their protest and participate in Teachers' Day celebrations, the protesters shot back saying “We neither want your sympathy nor promises. Just fulfill our demands.”

Speaking on the occasion Jayaram Shetty, District President of the Association said it was inevitable to observe black day on Teachers' Day as the Government has failed to fulfill the demands of PU teachers.

Reiterating the demands of the Association, he said the scale for teachers should be fixed at 14050-25050. It should be implemented within effect from July 10, 2005.

The salary given to the PU College teachers and the First Grade College teachers were same before 1998. However, there has been disparity in the wages after 1998. The Association has demanded that the State Government should undo the injustice done to teachers of pre-university colleges in fixing of pay scales in the 4th and 5th pay commissions and ensure parity in wages with teachers of neighbouring State and those of Central institutions.

“It was unfortunate that although the teachers in the State had been demanding the Government to undo the injustice, nothing has been done,” he said. Owing to the negligence of the government in fixing the wages, the PU College Teachers were forced to wear black badge while evaluating the answer scripts in April as a mark of protest.

Responding to the demands, former chief minister had directed department secretary to give a report to the government within 30 days. The secretary had submitted the report to the government; however, the government has not taken any measure to rectify the disparity in fixing the scale.

“Dejected with the attitude of the state government, we were forced to observe black day on Teachers' Day,” he said.

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HC refuses to quash probe against Mangaluru WhatsApp admin over offensive posts

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has refused to quash an investigation against a WhatsApp group administrator accused of allowing the circulation of obscene and offensive images depicting Hindutva politicians and idols in 2021.

Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that, prima facie, the ingredients of the offence under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code were made out. “The offence under Section 295A of the IPC is met to every word of its ingredient, albeit prima facie,” the judge said.

The petitioner, Sirajuddin, a resident of Belthangady taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, had challenged the FIR registered against him at the CEN (Cyber, Economics and Narcotics) police station, Mangaluru, for offences under Section 295A of the IPC and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. Section 295A relates to punishment for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens.

According to the complaint filed by K Jayaraj Salian, also a resident of Belthangady taluk, he received a WhatsApp group link from an unknown source and was added to the group after accessing it. The group reportedly had six administrators and around 250 participants, where obscene and offensive images depicting Hindu deities and certain political figures were allegedly circulated repeatedly.

Sirajuddin was arrested in connection with the case and later released on bail on February 16, 2021. He argued before the court that he was being selectively targeted, while other administrators—including the creator of the group—were neither arrested nor investigated. He also contended that the Magistrate could not have taken cognisance of the offence under Section 295A without prior sanction under Section 196(1) of the CrPC.

Rejecting the argument, Justice Nagaprasanna held that prior sanction is required only at the stage of taking cognisance, and not at the stage of registration of the crime or during investigation.

The judge noted that the State had produced the entire investigation material before the court. “A perusal of the material reveals depictions of Hindu deities in an extraordinarily obscene, demeaning and profane manner. The content is such that its reproduction in a judicial order would itself be inappropriate,” the court said, adding that the material, on its face, had the tendency to outrage religious feelings and disturb communal harmony.

Observing that the case was still at the investigation stage, the court said it could not interdict the probe at this juncture. However, it expressed concern that the investigating officer appeared to have not proceeded uniformly against all administrators. The court clarified that if the investigation revealed the active involvement of any member in permitting the circulation of such content, they must also be proceeded against.

“At this investigative stage, any further observation by this Court would be unnecessary,” the order concluded.

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