President rule in K'taka: Notices to Centre, State

Bangalore, Apr 16: The Karnataka High Court today directedissuance of notices to the Centre and the State Government on a publicinterest litigation, seeking to impose President's rule in the State byinvoking Article 356 of the Constitution for not holding local bodypolls on time.

Mr Justices Chidananda Ullal and Ashok Hinchigeri issued thenotices on the PIL, filed by former Ministers H Ekanthaiah and P G RSindhia, MLA.

The petitioners contended that the Government had breachedConstitutional provisions by failing to hold elections to 209 UrbanLocal Bodies before the expiry of the term of the democraticallyelected bodies. A situation had now arisen that the Government couldnot carry on in accordance with the Constitutional provisions, theysubmitted, seeking imposition of President's rule.

UNI