Karnataka HC directs SEC to conduct BBMP polls by Dec 31
Bengaluru, Sep 30: The Karnataka High Court on Friday set aside the reservation list for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) announced by the state government in August this year and directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct elections to the civic body by December 31.
The court directed that a fresh list has to be prepared before November 30.
The government announced the draft list on August 3 and notified it on August 16. Several petitions were filed in the HC challenging this notification.
The HC partly accepted the contentions of petitioner K Mahadev and others from Ejipura.
The court found errors in the reservation provided in the OBC and women's categories. However, the reservation for SC/ST candidates was found to be in order.
Before the HC's order, Additional Advocate General Dhyan Chinnappa submitted an affidavit prepared by H S Shivakumar, the Under Secretary of the Urban Development department.
The affidavit sought 16 weeks to redo the reservation list. The HC, however, granted only eight weeks for it.
The HC also directed that the state government provide all data necessary for preparing the reservation list to the Justice (retired) Dr Bhaktavatsala Commission within one month.
While the petitions were disposed of, the HC is slated to check the action taken on the order on November 30.
The HC, in September 2020, had ordered the elections to the BBMP to be conducted.
The state government approached the Supreme Court and obtained a stay on this order.
Earlier in May this year, the Supreme Court, while hearing the case between Madhya Pradesh and Suresh Mahajan, directed that elections to all local bodies pending in the country should be conducted without any delay.
Subsequently, the SEC approached the HC to hear its earlier plea against the state government taking over its powers of ward delimitation and reservation.
In the meantime, the government announced the reservation list and completed the delimitation.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
