In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court delivered a decisive ruling on Monday, denying the plea for a stay order by Prajwal Revanna, the sole JDS Member of Parliament representing the state. This ruling upholds his disqualification as a Lok Sabha MP and was issued by Justice K Natarajan, presiding over a single judge bench. This pivotal decision carries notable implications for the political landscape of Karnataka.
Source: LatestLY
During the court proceedings, Revanna’s legal counsel fervently contended that a stay order should be granted in light of the potential consequences he would face if the disqualification were enforced. They emphasized that without a stay, Revanna would be unable to participate in crucial parliamentary sessions, thereby impeding his ability to fulfill his legislative responsibilities.
Furthermore, his legal team argued that his disqualification, despite having secured a historic number of votes in his favor, would inflict substantial hardship and injury on his political career. In a counter-argument, the opposing counsel pointed out that the disqualification order had already been set in motion and officially communicated to the Speaker of the House, suggesting that it was a matter that had advanced beyond the point of reversal.
Source: The wire
The bench’s observations were unequivocal, as they remarked, “Merely because the parliamentary session commences from 18th September onwards, that itself is not a ground for staying the operation of the order when serious corrupt practices were proved…I am of the view that the respondent has not made out a sufficient ground for allowing the application.”
This stance underscores the court’s insistence on upholding the integrity of the process and its reluctance to grant a stay order solely based on the impending parliamentary session. The order disqualifying Prajwal Revanna had originally been issued by Justice K Natarajan, who had partially ruled in favor of two petitioners: a voter from the Hassan constituency and A Manju, the Lok Sabha candidate who had been defeated by Revanna in the 2019 elections.
Source: Live Law
The petitions alleged that Revanna had committed election wrongdoing and didn’t properly declare his assets. Justice Natarajan partly accepted these petitions. He canceled Revanna’s election but didn’t declare Manju as the “returned candidate” because he also engaged in “corrupt practices.”
