Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 19: Unseated municipal council president, Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty, and five other Congress councillors, who had lost their memberships of the city council as per a recent verdict pronounced by the district deputy commissioner's (DC) court under the provisions of anti defection laws, have been restored of their memberships. The state high court has granted interim stay against the above decision of the DC's court.

Through a decision that was handed on May 7 this year, the DC's court had disqualified Congress councillors, Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty, who was also chosen as the municipal president, and councillors, Navinchandra Naik, Seema Gangadhar, Rekha Yashodhar, Deeksha Pai and Kamala. This decision had resulted in toppling of Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty from the post of the president, which then automatically went to vice president, Jeevandhar Jain from BJP.

All these six persons had approached the high court, questioning the decision of the DC's court. The HC single judge bench presided over by Justice Venugopala Gowda granted conditional interim stay against DC's court decision, said advocate for the petitioners, Mahesh Kaje. He added that the bench had set certain pre-conditions, like no election should be conducted till it pronounces its further orders, councillors who have been reinstated can take part in council proceedings but cannot vote on resolutions. He added that the HC has posted this case for hearing on June 3.

Jagadish Shetty and five others councillors named above had revolted against the party's whip to vote for Muhammedali, and elected the former as president with the support of BJP councillors. Aggrieved at this development, Muhammedali had filed petition in the DC's court against these six persons for not obeying the whip.

Expressing happiness at having been given back the post of the municipal president, Jagadish Shetty said he never aspired for power, as he continued to work for the betterment of the people, whether in positions of power or not.