BENGALURU: The BBMP mayor and deputy mayor polls will be held on Friday as announced earlier. On Wednesday, the High Court, hearing a petition challenging the voting rights of MLAs, MLCs and MPs, directed the Regional Commissioner to go ahead with the elections.
Justice Raghvendra S Chauhan clarified in his interim order that the result of the mayoral election shall be subject to the final judgment in the petitions pending before him. The hearing was later adjourned to September 29.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Chauhan observed, “This is a matter involving the constitutional validity which cannot be decided in a hurry. If MLAs, MLCs and MPs are not allowed to vote, the legislation process will collapse. Even if they are to be prevented from voting, the matter needs to be heard in detail... Hence, let them go ahead with the election.”
Justice Chauhan also clarified that persons who get elected as mayor and deputy mayor in the September 11 elections will not be permitted to claim equity in the event the court allows the petitions and declares the law as unconstitutional thereby nullifying the votes cast by MLAs, MLCs and MPs.