New Delhi/Bengaluru: In a significant relief to Congress MLA K.Y. Nanjegowda, the Supreme Court has stayed the Karnataka High Court’s order that had annulled his 2023 election victory from the Malur Assembly constituency in Kolar district.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued the interim stay while directing the Election Commission of India (ECI) to comply with the High Court’s earlier order for a vote recount but submit the final report in a sealed cover before the apex court.
The Supreme Court made it clear that the recount results must not be made public without its prior approval, effectively pausing the implementation of the High Court’s ruling until further orders.
The Karnataka High Court had earlier nullified Nanjegowda’s election after finding irregularities in the vote counting process during the 2023 Assembly polls. The court had also ordered a fresh recount of votes in the Malur constituency, which Nanjegowda challenged before the apex court, arguing that the High Court’s decision was procedurally flawed and politically motivated.
With this stay, Nanjegowda retains his MLA position temporarily, while the final outcome depends on the Supreme Court’s detailed hearing in the coming weeks.
Political Significance:
The ruling comes as a major relief for the Congress government in Karnataka, which faces multiple election-related challenges amid opposition scrutiny. The Malur seat is seen as strategically important in the Kolar region, and the stay order prevents immediate political embarrassment for the ruling party.
The case is likely to be listed for a detailed hearing after the Election Commission files its sealed report on the recount process.
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