Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 30: The state high court (HC) has upheld the judgment earlier passed by the court of Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC), annulling memberships of six municipal councillors here for violating the whip issued by their party leadership.

The DC's court had, on May 7, 2015, invalidated council memberships of former municipal president, Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty, and councillors, Seema Gangadhar, Rekha Yashodhar, Naveenchandra Naik, Deeksha Pai, and Kamala Anand. All the six had filed writ petitions in the state HC against this order.

The high court which heard the petitions, had issued an interim order, staying operation of the order of the DC's court. After prolonged hearings, the HC came out with a judgment, duly upholding the earlier verdict of DC's court.

The terms of the current president and vice president of the municipal council here had ended on March 10, and a new president and vice president were to be elected as per the new reservation criteria on the same day. But the HC had stayed the election, after Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty and five councillors filed writ petitions, seeking to stay fresh election till the case relating to their dismissal is decided. As such, the district deputy commissioner had taken charge as administrator of the municipality.

Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty said he and the five councillors have accepted the HC judgment.