CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The hostility between the governor and the state government is nothing new. In 2011, then Karnataka Governor Hansraj Bharadwaj had sanctioned prosecution of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in a land denotification case triggering protests across the state by the ruling BJP. Cut to 2024, the ruling Congress has launched a campaign against Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot after the latter sanctioned prosecution against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA scam on August 16.
Siddaramaiah has moved the Karnataka High Court challenging the sanction order. Also, the high court deferred the proceedings in the trial court that is hearing two separate private complaints in the case till August 29, the next date of hearing in the high court.
Meanwhile, the submissions made by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented the chief minister and the statement made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the governor has caused intrigue.
Singhvi called the governor’s decision as “legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations” and contended that the impugned order of sanction was “tainted with malafides” and was part of a concerted effort to destabilise the duly elected government of Karnataka for political reasons.
The counsel also claimed that several applications for sanction made by investigating agencies were long pending before the governor and some of the applications were made after carrying out investigation seeking sanction under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, while some seeking prior approval under Section 17A of the PC Act.