Post-covid care and rehabilitation centres in all district hospitals: K''taka Health Min

News Network

November 6, 2020

Bengaluru, Nov 6: Post COVID-19 care and rehabilitation centres will be set up in all district hospitals in Karnataka for the benefit of those cured of the viral infection, state Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said on Thursday.

The Minister also said a decision regarding controlling the use of firecrackers during Deepavali, will be taken after discussion with the Chief Minister in a couple of days. Sudhakar today held a high level meeting with members of the technical advisory committee and experts.

There is a need to take care of infected persons even after they are cured. Bowring hospital, Victoria and KC general hospitals in Bengaluru will have rehabilitation centres. Similarly all district hospitals will also have rehabilitation centres and necessary infrastructure and staff will be provided for this, Sudhakar was quoted as saying by his office in a release.

Noting that experts are of the opinion that 5 percent people may contact the virus after recovery and intensity of the infection will be less in those who had critical infection earlier, he said similarly those who had no symptoms during the first time may have more problems during the second time, and therefore recovered patients must follow guidelines.

The Minister said officials have been instructed to study in detail and submit a report on Covid deaths. Also, a study has been commissioned on reinfection in recovered patients, and the report on this will be submitted soon, he added.

Observing that the upcoming winter and festive season are crucial, the Health Minister said firecrackers can badly impact the health of those who have already been infected, so experts have advised to control them. A final decision on this will be taken after discussions with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in a couple of days, he reiterated.

In R R Nagar and Sira assembly segments that went for bypolls on November 3, experts have suggested increased testing for about a week to 10 days time, he added. Sudhakar also said experts have advised for postponement of Gram Panchayat polls at least till February end and have expressed apprehension that conducting elections may lead to "door delivery of virus" as door-to-door campaign is crucial during these local body elections.

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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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