Karnataka High Court orders reverification of 279 rejected postal ballots in elections held to Sringeri Assembly constituency

The High Court of Karnataka connected Monday directed the Returning Officer (RO) to re-verify the 279 rejected postal ballots polled successful the elections for Sringeri Assembly constituency successful April-May 2023.

Justice R. Nataraj passed the bid portion partially allowing a petition filed by defeated BJP campaigner D.N. Jeevaraja, who had challenged the legality of the predetermination of the Congress’ T.D. Raje Gowda, who had won by 201 votes.

The RO, depending upon the result of the re-verification of 279 rejected postal ballots, volition person to undertake recounting of the postal ballots, the tribunal said.

Meanwhile, the tribunal kept the bid for reverification successful abeyance for 2 weeks connected a plea made connected behalf of Mr. Rajegowda to alteration him to entreaty to the apex tribunal against the order.

Mr. Jeevaraja had sought a absorption from the tribunal to state Mr. Gowda’s predetermination arsenic void arsenic per the provisions of the Representation Of People Act, 1951 and the handbook for ROs issued by the Election Commission of India for alleged malpractices, predetermination offences, unethical acts and indulgences, etc. Alternatively, a absorption from the tribunal was sought for recounting of the votes polled successful accordance with instrumentality and state the results afresh.