By Nalme Nachiyar
Copyright thehindu
1. Karnataka High Court annuls Malur MLA Nanjegowda’s election, orders recount of votes
The Karnataka High Court has set aside the election of Congress legislator K.Y. Nanjegowda, representing the Malur constituency in Kolar district, ordering a recount of votes polled in the 2023 Assembly elections. The verdict came from a bench which was hearing an election petition filed by BJP’s K.S. Manjunath Gowda, who had lost to Nanjegowda.
The petition alleged irregularities during the counting process. However, acting on a plea by Nanjegowda’s counsel, the High Court has put its own order on hold for 30 days. This interim relief allows the Congress MLA to move the Supreme Court. If the apex court does not intervene within that period, his seat will stand vacated.
2. Governor returns KTCDA Amendment Bill 2025, seeks clarification on buffer zone around water bodies
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has returned the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeking clarification from the State Government on its proposal to reduce the size of buffer zones for smaller water bodies. The Bill was passed in the monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature.
As per the Bill, the buffer zone is sought to be removed for tanks spread across less than five guntas while setting a three-metre buffer for tanks with an area between five guntas and one acre, six metres for tanks between one acre and 10 acres, 13 metres for tanks between 10 acres and 25 acres, 24 metres for tanks between 25 acres and 100 acres, and 30 metres for tanks over 100 acres.
3. Fire Department begins safety review of schools and hospitals across Karnataka
In an effort to strengthen fire safety in government schools across the State, the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) has launched an audit drive, extending it to low-rise school buildings.
In addition, the fire department has begun studying safety guidelines issued to hospitals in different States in order to formulate new, comprehensive guidelines for hospitals and clinics in Karnataka.
Till August-end, the KSFES had audited 24,000 of the approximately 46,000 government schools in Karnataka. The survey is expected to be completed within the next two months.
4. Karnataka seat blocking: Notices to 351 students who got govt quota seats but did not report to colleges
The Karnataka Examinations Authority has asked Visvesvaraya Technological University and the Karnataka State Higher Education Council not to grant admission approval or provide University Seat Number to 351 students who got government quota seats in the third round of CET-2025 counselling but did not enrol in colleges, thus violating rules and regulations.
The KEA has issued show cause notices to all these students and asked why legal action should not be taken as per the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions Rules 2006.
