Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 24: In connection with a petition alleging violation of rules in appointing nominated members to the legislative council, the state high court (HC) has issued notices to four MLCs, V S Ugrappa, Ivan D'Souza, Abdul Jabbar, and Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi.

The single judge bench presided over by Justice Abdul Nazeer, which heard the petition filed by former MP, P Kodandaramaiah, on Monday February 23, adjourned the hearing after ordering issuance of notices to the above four members of the legislative council.

The petitioner has claimed that as per section 171 (5) of the Indian Constitution, people with impressive achievements in the fields of literature, art, science, education, cooperative movement, experience in social service etc can alone be nominated to the legislative council. He pointed out that as Ugrappa, Abdul Jabbar, Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi, and Ivan D'Souza do not fit in any of these elgibility criteria, it is clear that the four have been nominated because of their activities within Congress party, as they happen to be active politicians. He claimed that rules and provisions have been thrown to winds in appointing them to the post, and felt that they are not eligible to continue as MLCs.

Although the petitioner had also objected to the appointment of Jayamala too, the bench exempted her from issuance of notice, considering that she had served the field of cinema significantly. The petitioner had prayed for making chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and office of the governor, as defendants, but notices were not served to them. Notices stand served to the four MLCs stated above, about whom recommendations were made by the state government, and the governor had signed the same on June 24, 2014.