Direct Jayalalithaa to step down as CM: Appeal in SC

Bengaluru, June 24: The Karnataka Government's appeal filed before the Supreme Court in the J Jayalalithaa case has two prayers. While the interim prayer is to restore the order of the trial court which will make her ineligible to continue as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the final prayer is to set aside the order of the High Court.

The Karnataka government in its appeal says that the immediate relief that they are asking for is for her to step down as the Chief Minister. However the final prayer which will be decided at the end of the hearing will be to restore the order of the trial court and uphold her conviction.

The interim prayer in the appeal will be the first relief that the Karnataka government would ask for. The appeal states that during the pendency of the case, she should be barred from continuing as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In order to ensure this the position that existed after the verdict of the trial court should be restored. As a result of the trial court verdict which convicted her, she was barred from holding public office for ten years. However she took over as the CM after the High Court acquitted her of all charges.

The appeal states that in the interest of justice, the position that existed after the trial court order should be restored during the pendency of the appeal. The appeal seeks that this interim prayer be granted while the appeal is being heard.

Reverse High Court order:

The final prayer is to reverse the order of the High Court which had acquitted Jayalalithaa, Saskikala Natrajan, Ilavarasi and V Sudharakaran. The appeal terms the order of the High Court as cryptic, illogical and states that it lacks reasoning. The appeal filed by the Karnataka Government further points out various aspects that were wrongly done by the Karnataka High Court while delivering the verdict of acquittal.

The final prayer in the appeal only seeks to restore the order of the trial court. It wants the four years conviction and fine of Rs 100 crore slapped by the trial court restored. The appeal does not seek any enhancement of the fine or the sentence.

OneIndia News