JOIN USThe High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday refused to stay the gram panchayat elections scheduled later this month, after the State government submitted that the process cannot be stalled once it is set in motion.
Hearing a petition by Ghousuddin, a native of Bidar, the vacation bench judge Justice Venugopala Gowda on Tuesday rejected the prayer to set aside the elections.
The petitioner had contended that no proper rules were followed by the government while fixing reservation and delimitation of gram panchayats. Stating that he is one of the aspirants for the forthcoming polls and that he has been affected due to reservation list issued by the government and had sought to stay the elections scheduled in the last week of the month.
On May 14, 2015, the vacation judge Justice Anand Byra Reddy had directed the State government to submit a report in this regard. Addl Advocate General A G Shivanna, who appeared before the court on Tuesday, submitted that since the calender of events has been announced, the polls cannot be stopped now. “If the polls process is stalled at this juncture, it will have a cascading effect,” AAG argued.
Justice Venugopal Gowda, however, directed that the State government can go ahead with the polls, but the same will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.
Info on DPCA soughtThe High Court on Tuesday directed the State to file an affidavit regarding the steps taken in constituting the District Police Complaint Authority (DPCA) in all the districts.
During a hearing of a petition by Adarsh, a City-based activist, the vacation bench judge Justice Venugopala Gowda sought details about the constitution of district complaint authority.
“A series of orders have been passed by this court in connection with appointment of district police complaint authority. The government has not taken this issue seriously. By the next date of hearing, the government must file an affidavit, regarding the steps taken in constituting the authority,” Justice Venugopala Gowda observed.
The petitioner has filed the writ challenging the appointment of Sudarshan Ballal as member of State Police Complaint Authority.