Bengaluru, 9 Sept

Karnataka High Court on Monday adjourned to 12 September the hearing on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the legality of Governor Thaawarchand's sanction for his prosecution in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case. The court also extended its 19 August interim order directing the special court for people's representatives that was slated to hear complaints against him in the case, to defer its proceedings till the next date of hearing.

The Governor on 16 August accorded sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the commission of the alleged offences as mentioned in the petitions of Pradeep Kumar SP, TJ Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna.

On 19 August, Siddaramaiah moved to High Court challenging the legality of the Governor's order.

In the petition, the Chief Minister submitted that the sanction order was issued without due application of mind, in violation of statutory mandates, and contrary to constitutional principles, including the advice of the Council of Ministers, which is binding under Article 163 of the Constitution of India.

Siddaramaiah sought quashing of the Governor's order contending that his decision is legally unsustainable, procedurally flawed, and motivated by extraneous considerations. -PTI