Contempt warning to top Karnataka officer

The High Court of Karnataka warned that it would be forced to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the Chief Secretary if the state fails to implement its order of providing land for graveyards in all villages and towns within two weeks. A Division Bench of the court is hearing a civil contempt petition filed by one Mohammed Iqbal who has alleged that the state has failed to follow an earlier order of the High Court in 2019 that had directed it to provide land for graveyards in all villages within six weeks. In September 2022, the State had informed the HC in a compliance report that it had handed over 23,815 burial grounds to local authorities and the process of handing over 3,765 burial grounds was still pending.