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Poll expense: HC orders notice to Moily

Last Updated 01 December 2014, 18:02 IST

The High Court on Monday ordered notice to M Veerappa Moily, the Lok Sabha member from Chikkaballapur constituency, in a petition seeking his disqualification for furnishing allegedly factually incorrect accounts of election expenditure.

B N Bache Gowda, the BJP candidate who lost to Moily in the recent Lok Sabha elections from Chikkaballapur, had approached the court alleging that Moily exceeded the ceiling of Rs 70 lakh fixed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the LS constituencies in Karnataka.

He had stated that according to the information obtained by him under the RTI Act, Moily spent Rs 73,28,486 for election campaign, but put the expenditure at only Rs 48.98 lakh.

Gowda further submitted that his complaint to the ECI and other authorities were not acted upon and hence had moved the court.

He also sought to implead Moily in the petition and serve notice on him. Justice B S Patil has also ordered notice to Election Commissioner of India, Chief Electoral Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Chikkaballapur also.

Revenue stamps

The High Court has directed the State government to examine the possibility of ensuring availability of Re one revenue stamp within the next 15 days, without affecting the provisions of Karnataka Stamp Act.

“ It is necessary for the State department of Finance to examine the legal necessity and feasibility of making available the stamp as required to be affixed under the provisions of Indian Stamp Act, 1899” a division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice R B Budihal said. The bench was hearing a petition filed by S V Desai, a Gadag-based social activist.

The Director for Treasuries, who appeared before the court at its direction, submitted that revenue stamps were banned from April 1, 2013, following a budgetary proposal to do so. The bench sought to know the provision of law under which the circulation of stamps was banned.

“How can a state Stamp Act override the Central Act without any provision. Do you think the government of India is a state of government of Karnataka,” the bench said.

The petitioners had moved the High Court stating that some banks were insisting that revenue stamps should be affixed on documents though the stamps were not in circulation. They had stated that revenue stamps purchased in Maharashtra were being sold at ten times their price in Karnataka.

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(Published 01 December 2014, 18:01 IST)

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