In order to facilitate students, the High Court on Wednesday ordered the Karnataka Examination Authority to announce the results of the second round of counselling for casual seats, by 11 am on Thursday. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen, passed the orders on PIL filed against postponing of the second round CET counselling for engineering seats which was scheduled to be held on August 22. The petitioner alleged that it had been postponed to facilitate Comed-K.The order to announce the results by Thursday morning is aimed at facilitating students to opt for the seats or to surrender them in favour of Comed-K counselling, which too has scheduled counselling on Thursday at 3 pm.
The petitioner had submitted that if the CET is conducted as per schedule, students will have the benefit of opting for merit seats in reputed colleges (Tier-1 colleges) at lesser fees of Rs 40,000 whereas they have to pay more than Rs 1 lakh if they have to choose seats in Comed-K counselling.
“As per the SC order in the Priya Gupta case, it is very clear that at any cost, there should not be any change in the schedule. However, the counselling has been postponed with mala fide intension to facilitate Comed-K,” PIL stated.
Balakrishne Gowda gets advance bail
Former KAS officer H.D. Balakrishne Gowda, eldest son of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, was a relieved man on Wednesday after the HC granted him anticipatory bail in the disproportionate assets case against him before the Lokayukta court. The court, while granting the relief, has imposed several conditions, directing Mr Gowda not to leave country without prior permission and that he should appear before the lower court and assist the investigation, shall not tamper with evidence and shall not influence witnesses. He has been asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with sureties for like sum.
The chargesheet, filed on August 7, stated that the accused possessed disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 5.24 core. However, they said that immediately after retirement, Mr Gowda had amassed assets up to Rs 79 crore.