High-ranking officer to oversee Vokkaligara Sangha poll

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to appoint a high ranking officer, to oversee the election to be conducted by the administrator appointed to the Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha, in order to ensure a fair process.

Justice B Veerappa gave this direction while dismissing a batch of petitions challenging the appointment of the administrator by the state government, by invoking sections 27-A (1)(a) of the Societies Act.

The Judge noted that there is a need for ensuring that reasonable persons are elected to these sanghas and societies in public interest as well as to achieve the welfare of that particular society.

The government had appointed the administrator in August last year holding that the Sangha had violated the law by not submitting audited accounts during the past five years.

The same was challenged by the Sangha whereby it contended that the state government had neither conducted an inquiry as per the law nor issued a notice to it before appointing the administrator.