The High Court of Karnataka has ordered issue of notice to the Election Commission of India on a PIL petition, which has sought directions to the EC to formulate new guidelines and introduce measures to curb newer and innovative corrupt practices, including bribing voters through gift cards, digital payments, and similar technology-based methods during the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha and all future elections.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar and Justice T.G. Shivashankare Gowda passed the order on the petition filed by four politicians, who had contested from various constituencies and were defeated in the elections held to the State Legislative Assembly in May last year.
The petitioners are Goutham Gowda M. of Kanakapura, Prasad K.R. of Kumbalagodu, A. Manjunath of Bidadi, and Nikhil Kumar K., son of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. The petitioners had earlier approached the Supreme Court, which had asked them to first approach the High Court for their grievances.
