Karnataka High Court
Sri. Vivek Subba Reddy vs Karnataka State Election Commission on 8 January, 2025
Author: R Devdas
Bench: R Devdas
-1-
NC: 2025:KHC:519
WP No. 33121 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R DEVDAS
WRIT PETITION NO. 33121 OF 2024 (GM-RES)
BETWEEN:
SRI. VIVEK SUBBA REDDY,
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
PRESIDENT
ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION BANGALORE
VAKKELARA BHAVANA
CITY CIVIL COURT COMPLEX
BEHIND CAUVERY BHAVAN
OPP CENTRAL COLLEGE
BENGALURU 560009
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI.VIVEK SUBBA REDDY., SR. COUNSEL FOR
SRI. DILLI RAJAN., ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally signed
by 1. KARNATAKA STATE ELECTION COMMISSION,
DHARMALINGAM
Location: HIGH
NO 16, BELLARY ROAD
COURT OF SADASHIVANAGAR, ARAMANE NAGAR
KARNATAKA BENGALURU 560080
REP BY ITS SECRETARY
2. COMMISSION OF POLICE
INFANTRY ROAD
BANGALORE 560001
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. VAISHALI HEGDE., ADVOCATE FOR R1
SRI.MOHAMMED JAFFAR SHAH., AGA FOR R2
SRI. AMRUTHESH N.P., IMPLEADING APPLICANT/
PARTY -IN-PERSON)
-2-
NC: 2025:KHC:519
WP No. 33121 of 2024
THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE R-1 AND 2
TO PROVIDE ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMS) AND TO
DEPUTE PERSONNEL FOR THE SMOOTH AND TRANSPARENT
POLLING AND COUNTING PROCESS OF ELECTION TO THE
ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION OF BANGALORE AND DIRECT THE
RESPONDENT POLICE NO.2 TO PROVIDE NECESSARY
ASSISTANCE AND SECURITY PERSONNEL FOR THE ELECTIONS
OF THE ADVOCATES ASSOCIATION BANGALORE AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R DEVDAS
ORAL ORDER
This writ petition is filed by the learned Senior Counsel Sri Vivek Subbareddy, seeking a writ of mandamus to direct respondents No.1 and 2 to provide Electronic Voting Machines (EVM's) and to depute personnel for the smooth and transparent polling and counting process of election to the Advocates' Association, Bengaluru.
2. Learned Senior Counsel and the learned Additional Government Advocate points out to order dated 18.12.2024, whereby the submission made by -3- NC: 2025:KHC:519 WP No. 33121 of 2024 Smt.Vaishali Hegde, learned counsel representing the Karnataka State Election Commission was recorded to the effect that electronic voting machines will be made available to the Association for elections, subject to conditions of the availability of the EVMs and no other elections being scheduled on the date when elections are scheduled to be held to the Association. Further, in the order dated 20.12.2024 directions have been issued to the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru, to ensure adequate bandobast and security during the elections to be held to the Association. The High Power Committee was also authorised to issue necessary guidelines to facilitate the smooth conduct of the elections. In that view of the matter, learned Additional Government Advocate would submit that the directions issued by this Court may be made absolute and writ petition may be disposed of.
3. Learned Senior Counsel Sri Vivek Subbareddy, who is also the petitioner in the writ petition accepts the submission made by the learned Additional Government -4- NC: 2025:KHC:519 WP No. 33121 of 2024 Advocate and submits that such directions may be issued and writ petition may be disposed of.
4. Accordingly, the directions issued by this Court on 18.12.2024 and 20.12.2024 regarding providing of the EVMs to the elections, which are scheduled to be held on 02.02.2025 and providing police personnel during the elections are hereby made absolute and the said authorities are directed to ensure compliance of the directions issued by this Court regarding providing of the EVMs and police personnel.
Writ petition is accordingly disposed of.
Sd/-
(R DEVDAS) JUDGE KLY CT: JL