Overview
- Justice R. Devdas partly allowed BJP candidate K. S. Manjunath Gowda’s petition, setting aside Congress MLA K. Y. Nanjegowda’s election from Malur.
- The Election Commission of India was directed to ensure a recount and declare the result afresh within four weeks of receiving the judgment.
- The court cited procedural failures, including the District Election Officer’s inability to produce mandatory videography of the counting, and told the ECI to consider action against the official.
- Implementation of the order is stayed for 30 days to let Nanjegowda approach the Supreme Court, and the seat will stand vacated if the apex court does not intervene within that period.
- The dispute followed a 248-vote margin in May 2023 and allegations of wrong tabulation and a denied recount request during counting.