BJP’s J. Shantha allowed to vote in presidential poll

July 12th, 2012 - 10:57 pm ICT by IANS  

Pratibha Patil New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) The Supreme Court Thursday allowed J. Shantha, whose election as the BJP MP from Karnataka’s Bellary constituency has been set aside, to exercise her vote in the July 19 presidential election, but said it would not be counted till the court ordered it.

A bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra said that Shantha’s vote would be kept in sealed cover, and would be subject to the order of the court.

The court passed its order on Shantha’s plea seeking permission to vote in the July 19 poll to elect President Pratibha Patil’s successor.

While staying the Karnataka High Court order directing the recount of votes for Bellary Lok Sabha seat June 26, the apex court had said that Shantha can sign the attendance register and participate in the proceedings of parliament’s lower house but would not exercise her vote and will not get any remuneration.

The high court June 11 had set aside Shantha’s election on the grounds that the alleged irregularities committed during the counting materially affected the outcome of the result. Shantha, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was elected to Lok Sabha from Bellary (reserved) seat in the 2009 general elections.

While disqualifying Shantha, the high court had directed the returning officer to recount the votes and declare results afresh.

The court’s order came on a petition by a Congress worker M. Chandregowda who had alleged irregularities in counting of votes.

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