![[MUDA Scam] Karnataka HC Adjourns Hearing of CM Siddharamaiah's Plea Related To Transfer Of Cases Till Dec 10](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-7-3.png?resize=447%2C355&ssl=1)
A petition to the Karnataka High Court seeks to annul Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s election, alleging that his campaign’s female-targeted freebies violate Article 14 and constitute voter bribery. The petitioner’s counsel argued that these promises discriminated against men and involved malpractices, while the defense dismissed the petition as a mere replication of previous cases.
The Karnataka High Court ruled that the Congress party’s 2023 election manifesto pledges are not considered ‘corrupt practices’ under the Representation of People Act of 1951. The court emphasized that policy declarations by political parties cannot be classified as corrupt practices and stated that the validity of policies should be left to the voters’ discretion. The court rejected a petition challenging the election of a Congress MLA based on the party’s manifesto.
The Karnataka High Court dismissed the case against BJP MLA Shashikala Jolle related to alleged vote-buying during the 2023 assembly elections, emphasizing the complexity of addressing electoral misconduct. The court ruled that the evidence did not constitute bribery or electoral offenses, providing relief to Shashikala Jolle. This highlights the importance of transparency in democratic processes.