Mangalore: District court upholds mayor Gulzar Banu's election
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Feb 7: In a relief to mayor Gulzar Banu, the district court on Wednesday February 6 dismissed a writ petition filed by Roopa D Bangera of BJP and ruled that Banu's election to the post of mayor was as per norms.
It may be recalled that on March 7, 2012, during the election to the post of mayor, BJP candidate Roopa D Bangera was disqualified by returning officer and division commissioner of Mysore M V Jayanti on the grounds that she had not submitted her caste certificate. As Gulzar Banu was the only other candidate, she won by default.
Roopa D Bangera then filed a writ petition in the high court challenging Jayanti's decision to disqualify her, but the case was transferred to district court as it was outside the jurisdiction of the high court. There was already a similar case filed by Premanand Shetty of BJP in the district court.
On Wednesday, third additional district judge P N Desai delivered the verdict dismissing Bangera's petition and upholding the election of Gulzar Banu to the post of mayor.
Speaking to daijiworld, advocate M P Shenoy who represented Gulzar Banu said that Banu's term in office will end on February 28, and the last council meeting under her will be held on February 21. He termed the verdict as a setback to BJP.
When contacted, Gulzar Banu told daijiworld that she was happy over the court's decision and the fact that it came before her term ended gave her satisfaction. "It will now become easier for me to campaign for the next elections," she said.
She said that because the case was subjudice, she was given only Rs 50 lac out of the Rs 1.25 crore set aside for the mayor for development work. "I will take up this matter in the next council meeting," she said.