The Supreme Court has rejected Rashtriya Hindu Sena chief Pramod Muthalik's plea that Congress party was seeking votes in Karnataka polls in name of religion. "There are judgments which say once the poll process begins, no court shall interfere," the court ruled on Thursday while dismissing Muthalik's pleas, reports PTI.
Muthalik had sought a direction from the apex court to the Election Commission of India (EC) to ensure that the Congress deleted its appeal to vote on a religious basis. A three-judge bench of the SC, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra, passed the order.
Pramod Muthalik had filed a plea in Supreme Court alleging that the Congress party in its election manifesto in Karnataka was seeking votes in the name of religion.
Earlier, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud on May 9 agreed to hear Mr. Muthalik’s plea, which also sought directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to delete the Congress party’s alleged appeal in its manifesto.
Advocate Vishnu Jain mentioned the matter for urgent listing and said there is a seven-judge Bench judgment which prohibits seeking of votes in the name of religion.
The plea had also sought disqualification of those Congress candidates who are allegedly seeking votes in name of religion in the Karnataka polls.
The Assembly election in Karnataka will be held on May 12, 2018, in 223 of the 224 constituencies.
The results are scheduled to be announced on May 15.
(With agency inputs)
