SC to hear plea of disqualified Karnataka MLAs to contest by-polls

Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear plea of 17 disqualified Karnataka MLAs who are seeking to contest by-polls for 15 Assembly seats in state.

A three-judge bench, heed by justice N V Ramana, said it would hear on September 25 plea in which disqualified MLAs have sought interim relief to contest by-elections.

Senior vocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for disqualified MLAs, told bench that as per disqualification orders of n Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar, se persons cant contest elections for remaining term of current Assembly which will end in 2023.

Meanwhile, counsel representing Election Commission, told bench that by-polls for 15 vacant Assembly seats have been tified and court should t stay elections.

EC's counsel also said Speaker's order disqualifying se MLAs cant deprive m of ir right to contest by-polls.

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Kumar h disqualified MLAs which eventually led to fall of Congress-JD(S) coalition government heed by n chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Kumaraswamy resigned as chief minister after losing a trust vote, which paved way for BJP-led government in sourn state under Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

lawmakers have approached apex court, challenging Kumar's decision to disqualify m.

Some of m have contended in ir pleas that decision taken by Kumar before resigning as speaker was an entirely illegal, arbitrary and mala fide exercise of his power under 10th Schedule of Constitution.

y have also questioned Kumar's decision to reject ir resignations by holding that those were t voluntary and genuine. 

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