Karnataka HC upholds disqualification of rebel BJP MLAs

BANGALORE - The Karnataka High Court on Friday upheld the disqualification of eleven rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, who were disqualified by the state Assembly Speaker under the anti-defection law.

Justice V G Sabhahit, the third judge who heard the batch of petitions filed by the rebels challenging their disqualification from Assembly membership by Speaker K G Bopaiah, delivered the judgement

The MLAs are expected to appeal against the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court.

The case was posted before Justice Sabhahit after a division bench, comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice N Kumar gave a split verdict. While Khehar upheld the Speaker’s ruling, Kumar set aside the disqualification order.

The hearing on another plea by five independent legislators against their disqualification was referred to a new bench, which will take up the case on November 2.

The BJP government had won the vote of confidence with 106 members supporting it and the opposition logging 100 votes in a House with an effective strength of 208.

Those BJP MLAs, who were disqualified are: Balachandra Jarkiholi, Belur Gopala Krishna, Anand Asnotikar, Dr Sarvabowma Bagali, V Nagaraju, Raje Kage, Y Sampangi, Nanjundaswamy, S K Bellubbi, H S Shankara Lingegowda and Shivanagouda Naik.

Former Ministers Venkataramanappa, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Goolihatti Sekhar and M P Narendraswamy and independent MLAs were also disqualified. (ANI)