JOIN US The High Court of Karnataka on Friday refused to grant interim stay on the byelections for the Lok Sabha constituencies of Bangalore Rural and Mandya.
M P Nadagouda, president of JD(S) had approached the court questioning the need to conduct byelection ahead of the general elections for the Lok Sabha. He had contended that according to Representation of the People Act, 1951, no election can be held if the term of the elected representative is less than one year and byelections to the two constituencies at this point of time amounts to waste of public money.
The counsel for the Election Commission of India argued that elections are held for the benefit of citizens and it was strange that political parties are against elections.
However, Justice A S Bopanna refused to grant interim stay.
The two parliamentary constituencies, Bangalore Rural and Mandya fell vacant after JD (S) candidates, H D Kumaraswamy and N Cheluvarayaswamy were elected to the State Assembly in May 2013. The byelections are scheduled for August 21.
Notice ordered
The High Court has ordered issue of notice to State government in a petition seeking directions to check illegal sand mining on lake beds. The petitioner had alleged that indiscriminate sand mining had been allowed on the beds of 238 lakes in Anekal taluk. He had contended that the lakes have been encroached upon and untreated effluents were being let into them.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Waghela and Justice A S Bopanna ordered notices to the State government.