The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday granted temporary relief to Belagavi Mayor Mangesh Pawar and corporator Jayant Jadhav by staying their disqualification from the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC). The order of disqualification, issued by Urban Development Department (UDD) Secretary Deepa Cholan on June 29, has been put on hold pending further hearings. The case has been posted for the next hearing on Monday.
The disqualification followed a complaint by social activist Sujit Mulgund, who alleged that Pawar and Jadhav had acquired commercial outlets owned by the BCC at Khau Katta (also known as Tinisu Katte) through a public auction in December 2020. Though the properties were registered in their wives’ names, the corporators allegedly continued to benefit from them after being elected in September 2021, without declaring the assets, as required under Section 26(1)(K) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act.
An inquiry conducted by Belagavi Regional Commissioner S.B. Shettennavar confirmed the violation, leading to their disqualification, which was subsequently upheld by the UDD secretary. The High Court’s stay is seen as a major reprieve for both the corporators and the BJP, which holds a majority in the BCC.
Earlier, MLA Abhay Patil had expressed confidence that the court would rule in favour of Pawar and Jadhav. With the interim relief granted, both leaders will retain their positions until the court’s final decision.
