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Karnataka Today newsletter: Names of SC communities used as cuss words likely to be changed, and more

The commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagmohan Das, which is overseeing a survey of Scheduled Caste population in Karnataka to draw up internal reservation for them from the 17% reservation matrix, is also exploring the possibility of recommending change in name of certain communities that are used as cuss words.

Some of the names of Scheduled Castes communities, including Holeya, Ghantichor and Halalkor, had been used as cuss word in Karnataka, or used to impart a negative connotation.

In the survey of scheduled castes, 101 castes and a total of 186 castes, sub-castes and synonymous names are being used for enumeration. The enumerators, commission sources said, have also observed hesitancy among people belonging to these castes to declare their identity openly.

As commuters eagerly anticipate the launch of Namma Metro’s Yellow Line in Bengaluru, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials have said that the line will begin operations in June, but only with partial service. In a move likely to disappoint many, metro trains will initially stop only at major stations, with full service across all stops expected at a later date.

The 19.15-km corridor stretching between R.V. Road and Bommasandra has been structurally ready for several months. However, its launch has been repeatedly postponed, mainly due to delay in the arrival of the much-needed driverless train sets. Despite these challenges, BMRCL has said that it will commence limited services using just three trains, each running at 30-minute intervals.

The Karnataka High Court restrained the Bengaluru city police from taking any coercive step against singer Sonu Nigam if he cooperates, and from submitting final report of investigation on the FIR registered against him on a complaint that he allegedly made an objectionable statement during a music concert when a few audience members demanded that he sing Kannada songs.

Also, the Court permitted Mr. Nigam to appear through video conference if the police want to record his statement as part of the investigation. Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar passed the interim order on the petition filed by Mr. Nigam, who had challenged the legality of FIR registration based on a complaint lodged by a Kannada activist, relying on media reports about the incident.