Karnataka High Court questions timing of government to trifurcate BBMP

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court today questioned the timing and the motive of the state government's move to trifurcate the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike, the city civic body.

"I am sorry. It is questionable. What was the need for the state government to dissolve the BBMP two days before the expiry of its five-year term? What is the motive behind such a move?" Justice Ram Mohan Reddy of a Division Bench observed while posting the matter for next hearing on April 24.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court D H Waghela and Justice Reddy, was hearing an appeal filed by the government against a single judge bench's order to hold BBMP polls by May 30.

The Congress-ruled government is insistent on trifurcating BBMP but it is being stiffly opposed by BJP and JD(S). The proposal to trifurcate the BBMP apparently gives an opportunity for the government to get a minimum of six months to hold BBMP polls.

The government had superseded the BBMP based on the Rajendra Kumar Kataria report.

Questioning the State Election Commission for not performing its duty, the Division Bench also said the delimitation of wards and revision of electoral rolls should have been done long back as it was overdue. The Bench also restrained the State Election Commission from issuing calendar of events till April 24 for the forthcoming BBMP polls.

The Siddaramaiah government's move to push through the Bill to trifurcate BBMP had earlier suffered a jolt with Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy adjourning the House till tomorrow. The united Opposition of BJP and JD-S has a majority in the Council.

Earlier, Karnataka Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar argued that the single judge's order had an adverse effect on the state as it could not go ahead with many of its proposals including delimitation of wards and thus has to be stayed.