State incorporated various caste-based corporations to secure votes: Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar to Karnataka High Court

The State government has incorporated various cast-based corporations to secure votes for the by-elections, Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar argued before the Karnataka High Court today..A Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice SS Magadum was hearing a batch of PILs questioning the legality of corporations formed by the State, for the benefit of individual castes, communities or religions..When the matter was taken up for hearing today, Kumar pushed for interim relief. He added that the State has not filed its objections despite being provided four opportunities to do so..Advocate General, Prabhuling Navadgi submitted that the Karnataka Veerashaiva Lingayat Development Corporation was formed in 2007, and for all these years, the petitioners had no problem..The work done by the corporations has uplifted various communities, AG Navadgi said..He further sought additional time to file objections in the matter..In an earlier order, the Court had held that all further steps taken by the said Boards and Corporations will be subject to orders passed by it..The first plea, moved by Karnataka State Backward Castes Federation, questions the legality of the policies and actions of the State government in establishing, administering and financing boards and corporations for the benefit of individual castes, communities or religions..The PIL essentially challenges the constitution of the Maratha Development Corporation, the Karnataka Veerashaiva Lingayat Development Corporation, the Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board and the Aryavysya Development Corporation..The State government is promoting the most advanced and powerful castes of Karnataka without sanction of law, and as an affront to all constitutional values, secularism, equality and non-discrimination, the petitioner claimed..Aiming to win the bypolls in Sira and Belagavi Lok Sabha constituencies and the Basavakalyan and Maski assembly constituencies, the State government is announcing boards and corporations, the plea contends. This action on the part of the government is illegal and unconstitutional, the petitioner added..A second plea questions the establishment of the Veerashaiva Lingayat Development Corporation. Appearing as party in person, Advocate S Basavaraj had sought a direction from the Court to prohibit unconstitutional establishments permanently in the State..The matter has been adjourned to March 17..[Read Petition]