SC dismisses plea by Karnataka Legislative Council Deputy Chairman against recounting of votes

The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 16) dismissed an appeal by Pranesh M.K., Deputy Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, challenging a High Court of Karnataka direction for a recount of votes polled in the 2021 Council election.

Mr. Pranesh was elected as MLC by a narrow victory margin of six votes.

The appeal was heard by a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, part of the Bench along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, pronounced the verdict.

The High Court order of January 29 last year was based on a petition filed by Mr. Pranesh’s rival and Congress candidate A.V. Gayathri Shanthe Gowda.

The Supreme Court reserved the appeal for judgment on March 11 this year. The judgment is yet to be uploaded on the Supreme Court website.

Meanwhile, celebrations began at the residence of Ms. Gowda in Chikkamagaluru on Thursday, minutes after news broke out that the Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal by Mr. Pranesh, challenging the outcome of the election.