Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 22: A public interest litigation filed by a city-based advocate Sriram Reddy, against the five state legislators who recently defected to the BJP, came up for hearing in the state High Court on Monday July 21. 

The petitioner has alleged that the defectors, Balachandra Jarkiholi and K Shivanagouda Naik from the JD (S) and Anand V Asnotikar, Jaggesh and J Narasimha Swamy from the Congress who deserted their parent parties and joined the BJP, did so for personal gains at the cost of the tax payers. Statements made by these legislators prove that they did so for personal benefits, he said and prayed for conducting a Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) inquiry into their actions and to ban them from contesting elections for the next five years. Saying that the action of the defectors has spoilt the spirit of the anti-defection law and threatened the fabric of democracy, the petitioner stated that these legislators indulged in horse-trading and were lured by money and power.

He further said that the defectors have shown total disrespect to the sentiments of the voters, wasted public money and caused losses to the government, by necessitating holding of by elections. He has also prayed for a direction to the centre to pass suitable legislation to bar defections in all forms.

Acting Chief Justice Deepak Varma and Justice A S Bopanna have ordered issuance of notices to the union government, state government, Election Commission of India and CBI.