Latest news with #AB320
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka appeals to Centre to finalise location for second airport for Bengaluru
Minister for Industries and Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil met Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu in Delhi on Thursday to seek finalisation of location for the second international airport for Bengaluru and also international status for Hubballi and Belagavi airports. He also sought approval for the inauguration of the Vijayapura airport and urged the Centre to upgrade the Hubballi and Belagavi airports to international status, according to an official release. Mr. Patil informed the Union Minister that an expert team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had already visited the three shortlisted sites for Bengaluru's second international airport, and their report was being awaited. Regarding the Vijayapura airport, the Minister noted that the project is ready for launch, with only clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment pending. Highlighting the importance of the Hubballi and Belagavi airports, Mr. Patil emphasised the need to upgrade them to international status in view of the region's development and to boost connectivity of North Karnataka with South Maharashtra and Goa. Both airports were being equipped with terminals capable of handling 2,400 passengers an hour and could accommodate AB320 and A321 class aircrafts, respectively. They were also equipped with night-landing facilities and dedicated cargo terminals. Belagavi, apart from being a defence location, is a well-known educational hub attracting international students, while Hubballi-Dharwad is rapidly emerging as an industrial zone. Granting international status to these airports would support comprehensive growth in the North Karnataka region and foster expansion in sectors such as e-commerce and logistics, Mr. Patil maintained. Stakeholder status sought He also appealed to the Centre to consider Karnataka as an active stakeholder in the airport asset monetisation programme. A more equitable and participatory model would not only recognise the State's significant contribution, but also ensure the long-term sustainability of airport infrastructure development, he stated. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is currently undertaking airport asset monetisation through public-private partnerships, including the proposed privatisation of 13 airports, such as Hubballi. However, despite Karnataka's key role in land acquisition, infrastructure development, and operational facilitation, it has not been granted stakeholder status in the monetisation framework, Mr. Patil highlighted. He further explained that the State has made major financial commitments—over ₹319 crore for the runway expansion at Mysuru airport, an additional ₹101.81 crore for associated infrastructure facilities, and nearly ₹450 crore for the acquisition of over 600 acres for the Hubballi airport. Kalaburagi airport, entirely developed by the State government and later handed over to the AAI, currently generates no revenue or equity participation for the State, he pointed out. Mr. Patil was accompanied by Infrastructure Development Secretary N. Manjula and KSIIDC Managing Director Khushbu Goel.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislation would stop judges from using dress codes to turn away unhoused low-income defendants
Adhering to court dress codes erects "barriers to accessing justice, and undermines the principle that the court should be open to all, regardless of social status," said Democratic Assemblymember Jovan Jackson. (Legislative screengrab) Angela Knott, a public defender with Washoe County, recalled a recent story of trying to connect a client who was experiencing homelessness and struggling with mental health issues to court-mandated treatment. Seeking to follow the court's instruction, the man made a 2-mile trek from the homeless shelter he was staying at, to his treatment facility, and then finally to court for an appearance. 'This was not easy to do because these places are not next to each other,' Knott told state lawmakers on Wednesday. 'He showed up. He did his drug testing and he was clear.' All the progress was jeopardized when a judge declined to hear his case because the man showed up for court wearing a T-shirt, shorts and 'bad shoes,' she said. 'The judge turned him away and told him he would not be sentenced right there until he changed his clothes,' Knott said. 'He walked 2 miles back to the shelter and 2 miles back (to court) and made it within 15 minutes before the judge hit his gavel … What he had to go through just to get to that point and to be turned away for what he was wearing should never happen again.' Assembly Bill 320, which was heard Wednesday in the Assembly Judiciary Committee, prevents a court from turning away defendants from hearings solely because they aren't wearing professional attire. The bill defines professional attire to mean clothing such as suits, slacks, long pants, dress shirts, long-sleeved shirts, suit jackets, blazers, ties, dresses, dress shoes and closed-toe shoes. While noting some judges have been lenient, the bill's sponsor, Democratic Assemblymember Javon Jackson, said there are courtrooms that have been more strict and deny people a court hearing. 'These dress codes impact individuals from low-income backgrounds who may lack the resources to afford formal attire,' Jackson said. 'This creates barriers to accessing justice and undermines the principle that the court should be open to all, regardless of social status.' AB 320 isn't designed to enable people to protest or 'wear crazy things in court' but instead intended to help people 'who truly don't have the means to have the right attire to court,' Jackson said. Local jurisdictions in the last year have ramped up homeless criminalization and passed ordinances throughout the state that punish unhoused people for activities such as sleeping and camping. Nick Shepack, the Nevada state director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, said as a result more people who are experiencing homelessness will move through the criminal legal system. 'As cities and counties increase laws that criminalize homelessness, we cannot expect that every individual will have access to the type of professional attire that we generally expect in court,' Shepack said. The Nevada Judges for Limited Jurisdictions opposed AB 320. Keith Lee, a lobbyist for the group, said the bill violates the separation of powers clause by legislating how the judicial branch conducts business. Republican Assemblymember Toby Yurek also questioned if the legislation 'might be overstepping our bounds in this legislative branch by directing a court to and infringing on their ability to manage their own affairs' Karly O'Krent, legal counsel for the committee, said there are already provisions in state law 'that do require the court to take various actions at certain times, and so it's not unprecedented to have language like the language that's been included in this bill.' AB 320 also empowers the Division of Parole and Probation within the Department of Public Safety to establish a pilot program to develop employment opportunities and provide employment readiness training for those seeking parolees or released on probation. Shepack said nonprofit providers offer people on parole access to training and employment, but this bill would enable the department to create one without relying on those independent agencies. The bill originally also sought changes to the bail process. Worried of potential controversy, Jackson removed the language to focus on the attire provisions. It's not just unhoused individuals who could benefit from preventing courts from turning away people just because of what they wore. Members of the Fines and Fees Justice Center conducted court watching in recent years and noticed other individuals being denied hearings because of their attire. 'These individuals, many of whom had taken time off work, relied on public transportation and made significant sacrifices and efforts to be there during the peak heat of the summer, were denied access solely based on their shoes and the length of their pants,' he said. Republican Assemblymember Alexis Hansen asked about outreach programs that provide clothing to people who lack proper courtroom attire as potential fix to the problem. 'Maybe some courts work with the community resources to be able to provide some clothing for individuals,' she said. Even if these individuals are aware of these donations and community groups that provide clothing 'there are a lot of boundaries just to get to these resources,' Jackson said. The committee took no action on the bill.
