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BANGALORE: The Karnataka high court on Friday disposed of PILs relating to American evangelist Benny Hinn’s programme by asking the police to take precautionary measures to ensure that "no motley crowd or group of persons can impede or interfere with the fundamental rights of any persons".

 A division bench headed by Chief Justice DH Waghela also recorded the statement on behalf of the petitioners, the Sri Rama Sene, that they or any other person on their behalf would not come in the way of any person exercising his fundamental rights (right of expression and right to profess) and will not create any commotion or disturbance during Benny Hinn’s congregation in Yelahanka from January 15-19.

 "The police would protect fundamental rights of all citizens" the bench told the counsel for the petitioners who expressed apprehension that there are chances of disturbances like those in January 2005 when Benny Hinn had attended a similar congregation at Jakkur.

 Earlier, Justice BV Nagarathna expressed shock at the way courts are being used for such issues in recent years. She also wanted to know why the petitioners want to hold a demonstration against Hinn’s programme but not protest against the mass recital of Bhagavad-Gita.

 "India is a secular country. It has so many sects, languages and religions as well as social groups. We need tolerance and you have to shun narrow-mindedness," she added.

Removal of encroachments

 Justice A N Venugopala Gowda on Friday asked the state government to come up with a status report on removal of encroachments from Tippagondanahalli reservoir zone-3, at a 1-km radius from the banks of the Arkavati river. He also directed the managing director of Bescom to attend and assist the monitoring committee meeting constituted by the court.

 The BDA submitted a report stating that 167 unauthorized layouts have sprung up in 174 acres, 14 guntas area in 24 villages in TGR Zone-3. The BDA also stated that notices have been issues under the KTCP Act to all 412 non-residential unauthorized buildings spread over 128 acres 10 guntas land and 54 of them are pending before court.

 The pollution control board said closure orders have been issued to 32 industries operating after the 2003 notification. Of these, 20 have approached the NGT and the tribunal has dismissed 16 appeals and four are pending.