Karnataka HC sets aside single judge order on BBMP polls

The court had asked the state government and the State Election Commission to hold polls within six months of dissolution of the BBMP

In a relief to Siddaramaiah government, the Karnataka high Court today set aside its single judge’s order to hold polls to the city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanaraga Palike (BBMP) by May 30, an issue on which the ruling party and the Opposition are at loggerheads.

The court, however, asked the state government and the State Election Commission to hold polls within six months of dissolution of BBMP which was controlled by BJP until it was superseded recently.

“Since BBMP has been superseded, both the state government and the State Election Commission should hold BBMP elections within six months of the supercession,” the Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, said.

The elections should be held as per the 74th Constitutional Amendment, said the Bench which heard an appeal filed by the government against a single judge order.

The verdict has come as a relief to the Congress government which the opposition alleged was trying to buy time to hold BBMP elections by insisting on trifurcating the civic body.

Meanwhile, opposition BJP and JD-S have demanded that the bill, aimed at trifurcating BBMP, be referred to the select committee of the legislature in a move seen as an attempt to checkmate the government’s plan.

The bill has been passed by the Assembly at a specially- convened session but in the Opposition-dominated Legislative Council, it is facing stiff resistance from BJP and JD-S which have joined hands to put up a united fight.

BJP said its stand is that elections should be held as per schedule and they will appeal against the High Court order in the Supreme Court.

The apex court had earlier held that elections to municipal bodies cannot be delayed unless there is a compelling reason such as a natural calamity, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka said. “Now we will knock at the door of Supreme Court for justice.”