HC admits PIL by Dr Srinivasa Kakkilaya seeking direction to govt for nominating members to KMC
The Karnataka High Court on April 22, admitted the PIL filed by Dr Srinivasa Kakkilaya seeking order or direction to the Karnataka Government to nominate members to the Karnataka Medical Council and issued notices to the respondents.
Elections to the Karnataka Medical Council were held in January 2020, but due to legal challenge, the assumption of office by the newly elected members was delayed by nearly 4 years, and the new members could assume office in November 2023 following the order by the High Court at Kalaburagi that upheld the elections.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka govt had nominated 5 members to the KMC in January 2020, even before the elections, and the same was immediately challenged by Dr Srinivasa Kakkilaya, and on the directions of the High Court in Dec 2020, the government had to withdraw all these nominations. Even after the assumption of office by the newly elected members 4 months ago, the government has not nominated 5 members to the vacant posts, and due to that, the new President and Vice President of the Medical Council have not been elected, and two of the earlier members of the Council have continued to officiate in these positions.
With the election code of conduct in force, the nominations to the KMC, a constitutional quasi judicial body, is further delayed. The petitioner therefore filed the present PIL writ petition seeking orders for immediate nominations to the medical council and for the immediate vacation of offices by Dr. Kanchi Pralhad and Dr. Nagaraj Annegowda who are now officiating as President and Vice President even while not being elected members of the Council.
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Sitaram Yechury writes to CEC, flags 'delay and discrepancies' in releasing voting figures
New Delhi, May 3: Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has written to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar raising concerns over "delays and discrepancies" in the release of voting figures of the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls, the party said in a statement.
Yechury, in his letter, said it is surprising that the final figures for the percentage of voting in the first phase of polls were released after an "inordinate and unexplained" delay of eleven days, while in case of the second phase, the delay was of four days.
The CPI (M) leader said there was a difference of around six per cent in the initial and final voting percentage released. He also questioned why the numbers of votes polled was not disclosed.
"Unfortunately, the ECI has not come out with any explanation for the cause of this undue delay. What goes unanswered is also surge of six per cent from the initial figures that the ECI put out and the final figure," the CPI(M) said in the statement.
"While it is plausible that there may be a slight variation between the initial and the final figures, this variation of six per cent is unusual and raises some suspicion. Also, while the percentages have been disclosed, the voting figures (number of votes polled) have not yet been provided," the statement said.
The CPI(M) said in the interest of transparency and credibility of the process, it is incumbent that the ECI clear the doubts that have arisen in this regard.
"It should provide state-wise, constituency-wise and assembly segment-wise break-up of the initial and final percentage as also the number of votes cast. Further, it also needs to be clarified as to how much under which category this rise has taken place - EVMs, postal ballots, votes at Facilitation Centres for personnel on duty etc," it said.
In a post on X, Yechury said the ECI should provide state-wise, constituency-wise and assembly segment wise break-up of the initial and final percentage as also the number of votes cast.
The Congress, CPI(M) and the TMC had on Tuesday criticised the Election Commission over the delay in publishing the final voter turnout figures for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls.
The commission that evening made public the voter turnout data of the first and second phases of polling held on April 19 and April 26.
According to the EC, a voter turnout of 66.14 per cent was recorded in the first and 66.71 per cent in the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
However, opposition parties are demanding that the absolute number of voters, not just the percentage, be made public.
Voting for the general election is being held in seven phases, of which polling for two phases are over. The remaining phases are scheduled for May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.
In the interests of transparency and credibility of the process, the ECI should provide state-wise, constituency-wise and assembly segment wise break-up of the initial and final percentage as also the number of votes cast. pic.twitter.com/YAAmGpKUw0
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 3, 2024
