Hubli: A Court in Hubli today (Nov 6, 2004) ordered issue of fresh notices to the respondents, who had not been served earlier, on four criminal revision petitions challenging the discharge of the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti and others in a decade-old criminal case.

Bharti had already been served the notice.

Additional District and Sessions Judge John Michael D'Cunha had on October 14 ordered issue of notices to all the respondents. But some were yet to be issued the notices.

Passing the order on issue of fresh notices today, the Judge adjourned the case to December two for further hearing.

Four social activists, including Gowri Lankesh, had filed the petitions challenging the discharge of Bharti and others by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Mohammed Ismail. The JMFC had also dismissed the applications filed by them opposing the withdrawal of cases against Bharti and others.

Bharti, who was in judicial custody, was released on September 6 after the JMFC discharged her in the case.

Bharti and others were charged for various offences, including attempt to murder and rioting in connection with the violence that broke out during the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led stir for hoisting the national flag at Idgah Maidan in Hubli in 1994.