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

Bangalore, Apr 16 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today directed issuance of notices to the Centre and the State Government on a public interest litigation, seeking to impose President's rule in the State by invoking Article 356 of the Constitution for not holding local body polls on time.

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

The petitioners contended that the Government had breached Constitutional provisions by failing to hold elections to 209 Urban Local Bodies before the expiry of the term of the democratically elected bodies. A situation had now arisen that the Government could not carry on in accordance with the Constitutional provisions, they submitted, seeking imposition of President's rule.

UNI