Disqualified MLAs Move SC for Postponement of Karnataka Bypolls
The disqualified Karnataka MLAs moved the SC seeking deferment of the Assembly bypolls scheduled for 5 December
The disqualified Karnataka MLAs moved the Supreme Court on Friday, 8 November, seeking further postponement of the Assembly bypolls which are scheduled to take place on 5 December, PTI reported.
On Friday, the MLAs moved the SC to seek a direction to the Election Commission to further postpone the December polls.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioners, mentioned the matter and said that the bypolls for the Assembly seats are scheduled on 5 December and candidates are required to file their nomination papers between 11-18 November.
He said the disqualified MLAs will not be able to file their nomination and moreover the apex court verdict has not been delivered on their writ petitions against their disqualification.
A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana had on 25 October reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions filed by the 17 MLAs, challenging their disqualification as lawmakers ahead of the trust vote by the then H D Kumaraswamy government in July.
The lawmakers had been disqualified from the Assembly till the present term lapsed in 2023, by former speaker Ramesh Kumar, after the mass resignations triggered the fall of the coalition government in the state, enabling the BJP to stake claim to form the government.
Rohatgi sought postponement of the bypolls till the apex court delivers its verdict on the petitions challenging the disqualifications. According to a report in Deccan Herald, Rohatgi sought an urgent hearing on Wednesday on the application filed by them in this regard. The court replied saying, "You file the application, we will see."
The apex court asked the counsel for the MLAs to file a fresh application in this regard.
Earlier, the Election Commission had postponed the bypolls, which were scheduled on 21 October, to 5 December in view of the pendency of the petitions filed by the disqualified lawmakers.
(With inputs from PTI and Deccan Herald)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)