Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday (September 2) extended its interim order granted earlier till September 9 on stay on trial court proceedings against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
High Court adjourned hearing on Siddaramaiah’s plea for a week
Justice M Nagaprasanna, while extending the stay on trial court proceedings, adjourned the hearing on Siddaramaiah’s plea for a week.
The High Court was hearing a plea filed by Siddaramaiah challenging Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s sanction for his prosecution in the MUDA case.
“List the matter on September 9 at 2:30 pm. Interim order granted on August 19 shall continue till the next date of hearing,” Justice M Nagaprasanna said, news agency PTI reported.
Siddaramaiah has challenged Governor’s sanction for his prosecution in MUDA case
Siddaramaiah moved the High Court challenging the legality of the order of the Karnataka Governor on August 19 seeking quashing of Governor’s order, submitting that the Governor’s decision is legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations.
Siddaramaiah has submitted that the Governor’s decision granting sanction for prosecution under section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Samhitha, 2023 has been done without application of mind and that the sanction by the Governor is tainted and an effort to destabilise and elected government in Karnataka.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Siddaramaiah earlier last week, told the High Court that the sanction granted by the Karnataka Governor was without application of mind and should be set aside.
Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Karnataka Governor, told the High Court last week that when there are allegations against the chief minister, the Governor is not supposed to depend on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.
Governor accorded sanction for Siddaramaiah’s prosecution on August 16
Governor accorded sanction for Siddaramaiah’s prosecution under section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 and section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the commission of the alleged offences on the petitions of activists Pradeep Kumar SP, TJ Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna on August 16.
MUDA scam pertains to irregularities in the allotment of alternative sites and there are allegations that Siddaramaiah’s wife was also a beneficiary.