Overview
- A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on December 8 on a voter’s petition challenging the Karnataka chief minister’s 2023 Varuna victory.
- Petitioner K. Shankara seeks to void the election and to bar Siddaramaiah from contesting for six years under the Representation of the People Act.
- The plea claims the Congress “five guarantees” — Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi and the Shakti free-bus-travel scheme — constituted a corrupt practice.
- The petition also argues the Shakti scheme violates Article 14 by discriminating against men.
- The bench, initially inclined to dismiss, issued notice after being told the 2013 Balaji precedent is under reconsideration and a co-ordinate bench issued notice in a similar case, with Justice Vikram Nath questioning how a manifesto could amount to corrupt practice.