JOIN USBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Benake has filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court, Dharwad Bench demanding that Belagavi North MLA Feroz Sait who has been appointed as chairman of Belagavi Urban Development Authority (BUDA) be removed as sitting legislators cannot hold the post of office of profit.
Sait had assumed charge as BUDA Chairman on February 20, after being appointed as its chairman by the state government.
Benake told reporters here on Saturday that MLAs cannot hold a post of office of profit. As the BUDA chairman gets remuneration, house rent and travel allowances, it amounts to an office of profit and cannot remain on the post. In the writ petition filed along with Sait, Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) too have been made a party.
Hearing of the case has been posted for March 27 (Tuesday). As per the orders of the court, notices have been sent to the ECI. CEO has been handed over the notice in person at Bengaluru and Sait too will be issued a notice through his representative, Benake stated.
He said Sait after objections being raised had announced that he would not accept remuneration as BUDA chairman. It does not hold ground or give him relief from the office of profit as the post has all the allowances stipulated whether they are accepted or not makes no difference.