Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 19: The state high court (HC), on Monday, May 18, observed that the government's behaviour appears to be supportive of officials who are guilty in the case of according permission to the marriage of Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. It heard public interest litigation filed by advocate Geeta Mishra on the issue.

A division bench of the HC with Chief Justice A S Oka and Justice B V Nagarathna, in its written observations, said that the government appears to be coming to the rescue of officials who were guilty of violating lockdown rules. The HC observed that the Karnataka government has not come out with truth on Nikhil Kumaraswamy's wedding.

The government failed to provide details of vehicle passes issued for the marriage of Nikhil despite a number of orders passed by the HC. This observation was made when hearing cases about the state's handling of the coronavirus crisis. The high court also said that the government did not confirm that those who attended the wedding from other districts had Y or Z category security. It felt that the government wants to defend illegalities.

As the wedding was already held, the judges said that they do not want to proceed further in the matter. The HC, however, said that the state has avoided taking a clear stand and is not willing to accept the errors committed by its officers.